Global Vaccine Summit: India Pledges $15 Million To International Vaccines Alliance Gavi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (4 June) pledged $15 million as India’s contribution to the Gavi, the international vaccine alliance, at the Global Vaccine Summit hosted by UK.

PM Modi on Thursday addressed the Global Vaccine Summit hosted by United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The summit was held virtually in view of the global lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Over 50 countries - business leaders, UN agencies, civil society, government ministers, Heads of State, and country leaders participated in the virtual summit.

While addressing the summit, PM Modi said that India stands in solidarity with the world in these challenging times, an official release said.

PM Modi said the COVID19 pandemic, in some ways, has exposed the limitations of global cooperation and that for the first time in recent history, the human kind faces a clear common enemy.

Referring to Gavi, he said it is not just a global alliance but also a symbol of global solidarity and a reminder of that by helping others we can also help ourselves.

He further said that India is also the World’s foremost producer of vaccines and that it is fortunate to contribute to the immunization of about 60 percent of the World’s children.

PM Modi said India’s support to Gavi is not only financial but that India’s huge demand also brings down the Global price of vaccines for all, saving almost 400 Million Dollars for Gavi over the past five years.

He reiterated that India stands in solidarity with the world along with its proven capacity to produce quality medicines and vaccines at low cost, its own domestic experience in rapidly expanding immunization, and its considerable scientific research talent.