Will Send Raw Material “Urgently Required” For Covishield, Says US

New Delhi:

The United States will “immediately” make available sources of raw materials required to scale up production of the Covishield coronavirus vaccine – a critical shortage of which has been flagged by several states as India battles a devastating second wave of infections and deaths.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke to his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval, on Sunday to confirm this, and also that his country had “identified supplies of therapeutics, rapid diagnostic test kits, ventilators and PPE suits that will (also) be made immediately available to India”.

The US is also “pursuing options to provide oxygen generation and related supplies on an urgent basis” to help India overcome a crippling shortage that has imperiled the lives of thousands of both Covid-positive patients and those fighting other diseases.