New Delhi

After goofing up initially, the United States of America (USA) has come forward with its pledge to help India pull through the second wave of the Covid-19 by resuming the supply of raw materials for the manufacture of vaccines.

The strongest and specific response to India’s situation has come after the National security Advisor Ajit Doval spoke with his American counterpart Jake Sullivan on telephone.

It may be recalled that Sullivan had visited India soon ater taking charge and held talks with Doval and other Indian leaders in Delhi.

The US response of standing with India also comes after a backlash in India and American against the Biden administration  for its initial cold response to the Indian situation particularly with regard to lifting of curbs on the export of the raw materials required by the Indian vaccine manufacturers to fight Covid-19.

Jake Sullivan took to Twitter to announce about his conversation with Doval and the subaequent US response to India's health emergency. He wrote:

Spoke today with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval about the spike in COVID cases in India and we agreed to stay in close touch in the coming days. The United States stands in solidarity with the people of India and we are deploying more supplies and resources: pic.twitter.com/yDM7v2J7OA

— Jake Sullivan (@JakeSullivan46) April 25, 2021

The White House released the statement of Emily Horne, spokesperson for National Security Council about the conversation.

It said, “Mr. Sullivan affirmed America’s solidarity with India, the two countries with the greatest number of COVID-19 cases in the world. Building on the seven-decade health partnership between the United States and India —including battles against smallpox, polio, and HIV — they resolved that India and the United States will continue to fight the global COVID-19 pandemic together.

“The United States has identified sources of specific raw material urgently required for Indian manufacture of the Covishield vaccine that will immediately be made available for India.

“Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, the United States is determined to help India in its time of need.

“To this end, the United States is working around the clock to deploy available resources and supplies. The United States has identified sources of specific raw material urgently required for Indian manufacture of the Covishield vaccine that will immediately be made available for India.

“To help treat COVID-19 patients and protect front-line health workers in India, the United States has identified supplies of therapeutics, rapid diagnostic test kits, ventilators, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that will immediately be made available for India.

“The United States also is pursuing options to provide oxygen generation and related supplies on an urgent basis. The U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is funding a substantial expansion of manufacturing capability for BioE, the vaccine manufacturer in India, enabling BioE to ramp up to produce at least 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2022.

“Additionally, the United States is deploying an expert team of public health advisors from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and USAID to work in close collaboration with the U.S. Embassy, India’s health ministries and India’s Epidemic Intelligence Service staff. USAID will also quickly work with CDC to support and fast-track the mobilization of emergency resources available to India through the Global Fund.

"The two National Security Advisors agreed that the U.S. and India would stay in close touch in coming days.”