Within the framework of the so-called "vaccine diplomacy"

India is competing with China to provide 15.6 million doses of vaccine to 17 countries

During the unloading of the Indian "AstraZeneca" vaccine, it arrived in Afghanistan.

A.F.B.

Yesterday, officials said that India had agreed to provide shipments of the "AstraZeneca" vaccine against the emerging corona virus (Covid-19) to Cambodia, and plans to supply Mongolia and the island states in the Pacific Ocean with shipments, while a shipment arrived in Afghanistan.

A spokesman for the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Anurag Srivastava, said that India has so far provided 15.6 million doses of the vaccine to 17 countries, either in the form of donations or through commercial contracts, as part of the expanding Indian so-called "vaccine diplomacy", seeking from it. To outperform rival China, which has promised to provide vaccines to many countries.

The government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is providing nearby countries with millions of doses of the locally produced AstraZeneca vaccine, although its local vaccination program has just begun, and Modi is using India's capabilities - as the world's largest producer of vaccines used to prevent many diseases - to improve relations with countries in the region. And resistance to Chinese political and economic hegemony.

The Indian ambassador to Phnom Penh, Deviani Khoopragadi, said New Delhi had approved 100,000 doses for Cambodia urgently, after a request made to Modi by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Cambodia is an important ally of China, which is expected to provide it with one million doses of its vaccines, which were originally developed by the state-owned company Sinopharm.

"The Indian Serum Institute will provide the vaccine and vaccine, despite the countless orders, and our commitment to the people of our country," the ambassador said.

India provided doses to Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, to help those countries start vaccinating medical staff, as part of its initiative called "Vaccine Friendship."

Yesterday, India sent half a million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Afghanistan, free of charge, and it is the first doses to reach that war-torn country, which is still awaiting clearance by the World Health Organization for emergency use before distribution.

In addition, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said that he intends to allow the production of vaccines issued from Russia and China in his country, in light of measures to combat the outbreak of the new Corona virus.

In statements to the German weekly newspaper "Welt am Sonntag", in its yesterday issue, Curtis said that the condition for doing this is to issue a permit in Europe first, adding that "Austria will then try to make available the production capacities of suitable local companies to produce Russian or Chinese vaccines." He emphasized that the matter is one thing, is to obtain a lot of safe vaccines as quickly as possible.

The Austrian consultant added that he himself would be vaccinated with both vaccines, adding: "The issue of vaccines is only about effectiveness, security and rapid availability, and not about geopolitical conflicts."

Curtis pointed out that the European Union citizens are currently supplied with vaccines in a less than ideal manner, and accused the European Medicines Agency of "working in a bureaucratic and slow manner in issuing the permit", pointing out that issuing permits outside the Union proceeds faster.

Curtis expected a clear breakthrough with regard to vaccines in the summer, and said that it would be possible for citizens in Austria to return to normal life in large parts, but added: "But I am also sure that the coming months will be very difficult."

It is noteworthy that Austria will ease the closure from today, and all shops, barbershops and museums will be allowed to open, but with the implementation of strict hygiene and health care rules.

In addition, the "Financial Times" newspaper reported that the United Kingdom government has chosen three local companies to conduct rapid tests to detect the Corona virus, which causes "Covid-19" disease, to reduce dependence on foreign producers and prepare for future outbreaks of the disease, according to what was mentioned by the agency. Bloomberg News, yesterday.

The Ministry of Health chose the London-listed companies, Omega Diagnostics, Chorscreen, and Global Access Diagnostics, according to the newspaper, citing two sources familiar with the decision.

The companies will produce 2 million immune test kits per week for the country, according to the report.

The UK Department of Health has stated that its procurement strategy ensures that the UK has supplies for the current symptom testing and extended asymptomatic testing program.

• Two million corona test kits will be produced by 3 British companies per week.

• The Austrian Chancellor plans to produce vaccines from Russia and China in his country.

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