INFLUENTIAL US Congressman Gregory Meeks on Monday (20) praised India’s decision to resume its export of surplus Covid-19 vaccines to meet its commitment to the COVAX global pool.
His words came after Indian health minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced the Narendra Modi government’s plan to resume export of the vaccines in the fourth quarter of the current year under the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ (vaccine brotherhood) programme to meet its commitment to the COVAX global pool.
ALSO READ: India to resume Covid vaccine export in October
He though said that vaccinating its own citizens remains the government’s topmost priority. India suspended exporting the vaccines in April following the outbreak of a devastating second wave of the coronavirus pandemic that killed several people.
Meeks, a Democratic lawmaker from New York and chairman of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee, was quoted as saying in a tweet from the committee, “I welcome today’s announcement by the Government of India to resume COVID-19 vaccine exports. As the world's leading vaccine manufacturer, India’s role is critical to defeating this pandemic.”
The tweet also tagged an article by The New York Times on India’s decision to resume its vaccine export.
Meeks' remark came at a time when Indian prime minister Narendra Modi is making a high-profile visit to the US.
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