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USA announces USD 25 million to support India’s COVID-19 vaccine drive

HealthUSA announces USD 25 million to support India's COVID-19 vaccine drive

The United States on Wednesday announced USD 25 million assistance to support COVID-19 vaccination work across India.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on a two-day visit to India, New Delhi said that the funding will contribute to saving lives by reinforcing vaccine supply chain logistics, addressing misinformation, vaccine hesitancy, and helping to train more health care workers.

“US has contributed more than 200 million dollars worth of COVID-19 assistance. I am pleased to announce that the United States government will send additional 25 million dollars to support vaccination efforts across India,” Blinken announced during a joint press conference with his External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

“This funding will contribute to saving a life by strengthening vaccine supply chain logistics, addressing misinformation, vaccine hesitancy, and helping to train more health care workers. We are determined to end this pandemic in India and the United States. We will work to do it,” he added.

Observing that the pandemic ravaged both the US and India extremely hard, Blinken said: “We remember with gratitude and will not forget the aid and assistance India provided to us early in the pandemic. I am proud we could return the gesture to India.”

Jaishankar said India has acknowledged the US efforts to keep the vaccine raw material supply chain open.

“We discussed the need for global availability of affordable vaccines. We hope the US would take a sympathetic view of Indian travelers,” Jaishankar said adding that they will continue to work together on vaccine availability and production.

Both Jaishankar and Blinken discussed a wide range of issues including Afghanistan during the meeting.

Blinken said, “India and US share a strong interest in peaceful, secure, and stable Afghanistan. As a credible partner in the region, India has and will continue to make a vital contribution to Afghanistan’s stability and development.”

He assured that the US and India will continue to work together to sustain the gains of the Afghan people. “We will continue to work together to sustain the gains of the Afghan people and support regional stability after the withdrawal of coalition forces from the country (Afghanistan),” he said.

Blinken will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later today. (ANI)

 

 

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