Dr S Jaishankar – External Affairs Minister:

Thank US Secretary of Stat Antony Blinken for organizing an important and timely Covid-19 Ministerial meeting.

Made the following points:

-Global effort should be to address the immediate challenge and the recurring one of future pandemics.

-Pressing need to rapidly expand production for vaccine equity. India can make a difference for producing accessible and affordable vaccines by virtue of our capabilities, experience and human resources.

-Quad initiative to supply 1 billion doses by end 2022 a notable international partnership. India’s goal for next year is to produce 5 billion doses.

-In changing scenario, vital that WHO & national regulatory authorities keep pace with vaccine innovation, production and usage. Safe and efficacious vaccines should be promoted expeditiously for vaccine equity.

-Need for redundancy, resilience and diversification in supply chains and an early resolution of IP-waiver issue at @wto. -Travel should not be hit by vaccine bureaucratism. Imperative to reach workable understandings for safe & smooth travel of vaccinated.