"Understand India's Pharmaceutical Needs": US On Raw Materials Needed For COVID-19 Vaccine
Washington:The Biden administration has conveyed to New Delhi that it understands India's pharmaceutical requirements and promised to give the matter a due consideration, observing that the current difficulty in the export of critical raw materials needed to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines is mainly due to an Act that forces American companies to prioritise domestic consumption.
President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump had invoked the war-time Defence Production Act (DPA) that leaves US companies with no option but to give priority to the production of COVID-19 vaccines and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for domestic production to combat the deadly pandemic in America, the worst-hit nation.
Since the US has ramped up the production of COVID-19 vaccines mostly by Pfizer and Moderna so as to meet the goal of vaccinating its entire population by July 4, the suppliers of its raw material, which is in high demand globally and sought after by major Indian manufacturers, are being forced to provide it only for domestic manufacturers.
Among other things, the DPA, that was enacted in 1950, authorises the US President to require businesses to accept and prioritise contracts for materials deemed necessary for national defence, regardless of a loss incurred on business.
The issue received global attention in recent days after Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India (SII), tagged President Biden in a tweet.
Respected @POTUS, if we are to truly unite in beating this virus, on behalf of the vaccine industry outside the US, I humbly request you to lift the embargo of raw material exports out of the US so that vaccine production can ramp up. Your administration has the details," he tweeted.
The Serum Institute of India is the world's largest producer of COVID-19 vaccine. Neither the US nor India has released details of the raw material that it is asking from the US.
In recent weeks, India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu has been taking up the matter with the Biden administration officials. During his meetings with the US interlocutors, the top Indian diplomat has sought a smooth supply of certain inputs for production of COVID-19 vaccines in India.
In addition, officials from the two sides have held discussions to ease the supply of critical materials, considering their increased requirements in both the US and India.
US side has clarified that there are no export restrictions on such items and that domestic regulations have only prioritised use of these materials for production of vaccines in the US, sources familiar with the conversations told news agency PTI on Monday.
Informed sources told news agency Press Trust of India that the Biden administration has conveyed to India that they understand India's requirements and has promised to give the matter a due consideration. The US officials, in these meetings, have acknowledged the larger framework of the India-US health cooperation. It is believed that the US Embassy in Delhi is also in contact with the relevant Indian stakeholders.
The Indian Embassy in Washington continues to be in touch with the US administration to find ways to ease the supply chain for vaccine production, consistent with the shared commitment to deepen India-US health partnership, particularly in the context of COVID-19.
The Quad Vaccine Initiative, under which India will manufacture US-developed vaccines - Novovax and Johnson & Johnson - is a concrete example of the US-India partnership. The Vaccine Experts' Group, which has been constituted under the Quad, has already begun its work, sources noted.
During the telephonic conversation between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday, the two top diplomats also discussed the coronavirus pandemic and ways to deal with it.
Earlier in the day, the White House refrained from answering questions on the export ban on COVID-19 raw materials.
Asked about the Serum Institute of India's request for the supply of raw materials, both Dr Anthony Fauci, Director at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Dr Andy Slacitt, White House COVID-19 response senior advisor said that they do not have an answer yet.
"I don't, I'm sorry... we could get back to you on that. I'm sure. But I don't have anything for you right now," Dr Fauci said.
"Let me get back to you. Suffice to say we are taking very seriously the global threat from the pandemic. We've been a leader in the funding of COVAX, have done several bilateral transfers of vaccines, and are looking very hard and taking very seriously all of these complex issues, we'll get back to you on specifics," Dr Slavitt said.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, when a similar question was asked during her daily news conference, referred to a recent speech at the WTO by US Trade Representative Katherine Tai.
"The significant inequalities we are seeing in access to vaccines between developed and developing countries are completely unacceptable. Extraordinary times require extraordinary leadership, communication and creativity," she said.
We of course are working with WTO members on a global response to COVID. That includes a number of components, whether it's USD 4 billion commitment to COVAX or discussions about how we can aid and assist countries that need help the most.
"Our focus is on determining the most effective steps that will help get the pandemic under control. We don't have anything further in terms of next steps or a timeline, but we are considering a range of options," Psaki added.
"Understand India's Pharmaceutical Needs": US On Raw Materials Needed For COVID-19 Vaccine
The Biden administration has conveyed to New Delhi that it understands India's pharmaceutical requirements and promised to give the matter a due consideration.
www.ndtv.com
1918's pandemic was WAY WAY WAY WAY more virulent and way way way more infectious. Its not comparable with this Chinese virus. Besides, do we want to take solace in comparing with our 100 year old past?
"Understand India's Pharmaceutical Needs": US On Raw Materials Needed For COVID-19 Vaccine
Washington:
The Biden administration has conveyed to New Delhi that it understands India's pharmaceutical requirements and promised to give the matter a due consideration, observing that the current difficulty in the export of critical raw materials needed to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines is mainly due to an Act that forces American companies to prioritise domestic consumption.
President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump had invoked the war-time Defence Production Act (DPA) that leaves US companies with no option but to give priority to the production of COVID-19 vaccines and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for domestic production to combat the deadly pandemic in America, the worst-hit nation.
Since the US has ramped up the production of COVID-19 vaccines mostly by Pfizer and Moderna so as to meet the goal of vaccinating its entire population by July 4, the suppliers of its raw material, which is in high demand globally and sought after by major Indian manufacturers, are being forced to provide it only for domestic manufacturers.
Among other things, the DPA, that was enacted in 1950, authorises the US President to require businesses to accept and prioritise contracts for materials deemed necessary for national defence, regardless of a loss incurred on business.
The issue received global attention in recent days after Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India (SII), tagged President Biden in a tweet.
Respected @POTUS, if we are to truly unite in beating this virus, on behalf of the vaccine industry outside the US, I humbly request you to lift the embargo of raw material exports out of the US so that vaccine production can ramp up. Your administration has the details," he tweeted.
The Serum Institute of India is the world's largest producer of COVID-19 vaccine. Neither the US nor India has released details of the raw material that it is asking from the US.
In recent weeks, India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu has been taking up the matter with the Biden administration officials. During his meetings with the US interlocutors, the top Indian diplomat has sought a smooth supply of certain inputs for production of COVID-19 vaccines in India.
In addition, officials from the two sides have held discussions to ease the supply of critical materials, considering their increased requirements in both the US and India.
US side has clarified that there are no export restrictions on such items and that domestic regulations have only prioritised use of these materials for production of vaccines in the US, sources familiar with the conversations told news agency PTI on Monday.
Informed sources told news agency Press Trust of India that the Biden administration has conveyed to India that they understand India's requirements and has promised to give the matter a due consideration. The US officials, in these meetings, have acknowledged the larger framework of the India-US health cooperation. It is believed that the US Embassy in Delhi is also in contact with the relevant Indian stakeholders.
The Indian Embassy in Washington continues to be in touch with the US administration to find ways to ease the supply chain for vaccine production, consistent with the shared commitment to deepen India-US health partnership, particularly in the context of COVID-19.
The Quad Vaccine Initiative, under which India will manufacture US-developed vaccines - Novovax and Johnson & Johnson - is a concrete example of the US-India partnership. The Vaccine Experts' Group, which has been constituted under the Quad, has already begun its work, sources noted.
During the telephonic conversation between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday, the two top diplomats also discussed the coronavirus pandemic and ways to deal with it.
Earlier in the day, the White House refrained from answering questions on the export ban on COVID-19 raw materials.
Asked about the Serum Institute of India's request for the supply of raw materials, both Dr Anthony Fauci, Director at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Dr Andy Slacitt, White House COVID-19 response senior advisor said that they do not have an answer yet.
"I don't, I'm sorry... we could get back to you on that. I'm sure. But I don't have anything for you right now," Dr Fauci said.
"Let me get back to you. Suffice to say we are taking very seriously the global threat from the pandemic. We've been a leader in the funding of COVAX, have done several bilateral transfers of vaccines, and are looking very hard and taking very seriously all of these complex issues, we'll get back to you on specifics," Dr Slavitt said.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, when a similar question was asked during her daily news conference, referred to a recent speech at the WTO by US Trade Representative Katherine Tai.
"The significant inequalities we are seeing in access to vaccines between developed and developing countries are completely unacceptable. Extraordinary times require extraordinary leadership, communication and creativity," she said.
We of course are working with WTO members on a global response to COVID. That includes a number of components, whether it's USD 4 billion commitment to COVAX or discussions about how we can aid and assist countries that need help the most.
"Our focus is on determining the most effective steps that will help get the pandemic under control. We don't have anything further in terms of next steps or a timeline, but we are considering a range of options," Psaki added.
"Understand India's Pharmaceutical Needs": US On Raw Materials Needed For COVID-19 Vaccine
The Biden administration has conveyed to New Delhi that it understands India's pharmaceutical requirements and promised to give the matter a due consideration.
Let this be another lesson on why the US can never be trusted, when push comes to shove. Ramp up our capabilities and build up our own industries. Let Indian companies be given priority clearances.
Till the GoI starts giving preference to Indian companies over American companies we will not get out of this rut. Let laws not be built to suit American entities.
Bharat Biotech ramps up Covaxin capacity to 700 million doses per annum, Making it One of the Largest Manufacturer of #CovidVaccine . Even the Raw Material Import from US to be Indeginously Replaced
There is a bigger failure here. That failure is called failure to plan. The processes needed to produce AstraZeneca was known in 2020. The required supplies were known. Why did government did not set up a procurement taskforce to stockpile these requirements back then? Why wait till USA closed its door in early 2021. I believe 4-5 billion spent back then would have ensured us a stockpile of essential supplies to manufacture vaccines.
Secondly, why did no one even bothered to start production of these items in India, even at a loss, payed by government?
This is essentially another unplanned action. Basically a lack of political will and a lack of planning among beaurocrats. I wonder if beyond just meeting with private entrepenures like Punawalla now, government officials met them in 2020 to understand what is needed to setup a supply of vaccines. I mean the guy had to shout from roof top to draw the attention of government officials.
Compare this with USA where CIA literally stole mask and PPE supplies.
The issue is the US provides the cell culture for Covishield and replacing that is not possible immediately, it requires re-trials and recertification, which could take 6 months.
Covaxin and Sputnik don't suffer from the same issue.
Its not just raw materials its other supplies like plastic bags and tubings are needed as well. From the looks of it, they are only provided by few vendors. The reason why they are so specific about these is because they have to stick to a working process.
No cell culture is not a problem at all. Actually, no one in USA is producing anything related to covishield specific because covishield is not approved in USA. Unless you have a source for it. The seed culture came from UK. The cells to grow them are not that hard to obtain because they are used in a number of other vaccines as well. Issue from what that Poonawalla said is specific bags and tubings and filters ie the supplies. A working process cannot be changed otherwise its products will not be up to standards of acceptance by governing bodies.
India is running out of oxygen, Covid-19 patients are dying – because the government wasted time
It took eight months to invite bids for over 150 oxygen generation plants costing just Rs 200 crore. Six months later, most still aren’t up and running.
scroll.in
This is simply mass murder!
The need was felt in march last year and these piece of shit ministry motherfuckers cannot produce a god damned tender documents till fukken october? Why these beaurocrats should not be all lined up in pragrati maidan with their family and shot dead.
And one word, *censored* tenders.
I mean NO peep about on premise oxygen generation in hospitals till october 21? WTF? What the hell were these *censored*s doing?
And lets not forget that sometimes back there were reported deaths of infants owing to lack of oxygen supply in NICU in Gorakhpur. Entire beaurocracy need to be purged in this nation and built completely from ground up.
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We have no idea how sputnik will roll out in India. Its some months away from production. Mean while they will get imports. Weird thing is that why the hell it was not approved till so recently? Dr Reddy's Lab had approached them quite a few times.
One must realize the mode of operation of ministery beaurocrats. Only in October they floated the tender. Why? Because of peak of mid September or so. I am sure these idiots did not even start writing this tender document before beginning of october.
Now another peak is upon us, they will be finally following up on the actual tender delivery and installation. It will be mid of 2024 when all the work be done because of to and fro. By then hopfully we would have vaccinated 50% of India using excess vaccines from EU/US etc. They gave vendors just 7 days to go through 150 page bullshit they ahve written and to check with their suppliers about lead time and quotations. This could have been done in early May 2020.
This is a glimpse of how things work in government. No wonder, no weapons are purchased. No hard shelters for Su-30 are built. No night vision goggles are ordered. No service rifles are purchased. No cold weather clothes or tents are purchased. Its exactly same pattern of moving their fat dabbawalla *censored* after disaster has struck.
Now another peak is upon us, they will be finally following up on the actual tender delivery and installation. It will be mid of 2024 when all the work be done because of to and fro. By then hopfully we would have vaccinated 50% of India using excess vaccines from EU/US etc. They gave vendors just 7 days to go through 150 page bullshit they ahve written and to check with their suppliers about lead time and quotations. This could have been done in early May 2020.
This is a glimpse of how things work in government. No wonder, no weapons are purchased. No hard shelters for Su-30 are built. No night vision goggles are ordered. No service rifles are purchased. No cold weather clothes or tents are purchased. Its exactly same pattern of moving their fat dabbawalla *censored* after disaster has struck.
Be prepared to hear a fire or blast in Bharat Bio facilities to sabotage Indian Vaccine supplies.
No one is bothered to do so. India has already done enough on herself. The peak will be around mid of June with perhaps 10-15 million or more daily cases.
There is no need to sabotage in India. We do more than enough by ourselves. There is going to be a massive excess of vaccines in US from August. It will be distributed freely everywhere. all these extra vaccines ahve already been paid for. By American money. By November similar scenario will emerge in Canada. And later in EU.
Medical oxygen requirement increased 7 times; met 60% demand: Inox Air
According to industry figures, the pre-Covid demand for liquid medical oxygen before the pandemic was 700 tonne per day across the country
India has enough oxygen production to meet existing demand: Siddharth Jain, director of Inox Air Products
Inox Air Products supply 50 percent of the oxygen requirement in the country, Siddharth Jain, director of Inox Air Products told Moneycontrol in an exclusive interview.
The problem is not Oxygen production
It is the Transport in the Tankers ie Distribution
The Truck or Tanker is not a easy thing to make , it takes 4 months to make one tanker
It is the Transport in the Tankers ie Distribution
The Truck or Tanker is not a easy thing to make , it takes 4 months to make one tanker