Covid-19: in India, Biden's refusal to lift the embargo on vaccine adjuvants, shocks
An Indian policeman is vaccinated at the civilian hospital in Amritsar on April 21, 2021. AFP - NARINDER NANU
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Overwhelmed by a second lightning wave, India is asking the United States for help to produce more vaccines.
But despite the pressure, Joe Biden refused this Friday, April 23 to lift his embargo on vital medical products.
An end of disallowance which shocks, while even the Chinese rival today offers its help.
Publicity
Read more
With our correspondent in Bangalore,
Côme Bastin
Americans first.
The words are not from Donald Trump but from his successor Joe Biden.
Two weeks ago, the
president of the Serum Institute of India begged him
to lift the US embargo on vaccine adjuvants.
The US chambers of commerce had since asked him to ship vaccines to India, but nothing helped.
“
For the sake of the world, the United States must first respond to the needs of its own people,
” said spokesperson Ned Price.
►
Read also: Covid-19: Indian hospitals facing the oxygen shortage
Delhi had sent hydroxychloroquine to the Americans
This refusal on the part of the great power, considered as an ally, shocks many Indians.
A feeling aggravated by the fact that India had shipped to the United States many doses of hydroxychloroquine at the heart of the crisis, judges the newspaper
First Post.
Indo-American public health expert Ashish Jha recalled that Washington had 40 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine that would not be used.
India is in the throes of a horrendous COVID surge
Horrendous
They are struggling to get more people vaccinated
We are sitting on 35-40 million doses of Astra Zeneca vaccine Americans will never use
Can we please give or lend them to India?
Like may be now?
It'll help.
A lot
- Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH (@ashishkjha) April 22, 2021
Meanwhile countries such as Australia, France and even China have said they stand ready to help India deal with the pandemic.
In Pakistan, the
hashtag
#
IndianLivesMatter
is on the front page of the local press, and a foundation has offered to send 50 ambulances and personnel.
►
To read also: Epidemic outbreak in India: what we know about the "
Indian variant
" of Covid-19
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
United States
India
Vaccines
On the same subject
Reportage
Covid-19: Indian hospitals facing oxygen shortage
Covid-19 in India: New Delhi confined for at least a week
India's largest vaccine maker calls for end to component embargo