The Union government is in talks with major vaccine manufacturers like Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna about sourcing and possible local manufacturing of their vaccines in India, confirmed foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Thursday.
Addressing the World Health Organisation’s South-East Asia Regional Health Partners’ Forum on Covid-19, he said, “We are part of the discussions with major vaccine manufacturers like Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna about sourcing and possible local manufacturing of their vaccines in India. We have also helped to expedite the introduction of Sputnik-V vaccines.”
Stating that India was fighting an “exceptionally severe second wave” of the pandemic, Harsh Vardhan Shringla said that India is “working with several other countries in the WTO on a targeted and temporary waiver under TRIPS to ensure timely and secure access to vaccines for all”.
Reiterating India’s stance on participating in the process of creating global scale capacities to fight the battle against Covid-19 and the major problems the virus has given birth to, he also said, “We are also looking forward to WHO’s approval for India’s indigenous vaccine manufactured by Bharat Biotech.”
He further said, “we will participate in the process of creating global scale capacities that are needed to deal with pandemic scale challenges. A number of serious global conversations are underway on this in platforms such as the G7, the G20, QUAD, BRICS, the United Nations and the WHO itself.”
He wrapped up his speech by talking about how India will participate fully in the international process of regeneration.
“Every crisis, empirically speaking, is followed by growth. The same will happen as the pandemic ultimately wanes. We will participate fully in the international process of regeneration through building newer and more resilient supply chains, by focusing on newer technologies and knowledge-driven opportunities and leveraging India’s strengths and capacities,” Harsh Vardhan Shringla said.
At present, Covaxin produced by Bharat Biotech, Covishield produced by Serum Institute of India and Russia’s Sputnik V have been given authorization in the country. Last month saw India getting the first batches of Suptink V vaccines, which will be also produced by Indian companies.
