While the left cabal continued to demean the Indian vaccine model, the same has gained international recognition with leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos declaring that everyone else must follow the ‘Indian model’ to ensure vaccine parity and coverage.
The tale of India’s vaccination drive, as well as delivering vaccines to countries in India’s neighbourhood such as Nepal and Bangladesh, as well as a number of African countries, is not as straightforward as it appears today.
Opposition groups in India, such as the communists, the Congress, and the Samajwadi Party, attempted to instil fear-mongering and propagated the idea of the BJP’s vaccine and anti-vaccination.
States like Delhi and West Bengal made bold statements that they should be in charge of the entire vaccine campaign, but when it came to procurement, they claimed that foreign manufacturers were refusing to bargain with states individually.
In reality, even at the worldwide level, there were a “relatively limited number” of vaccine makers compared to demand. In June 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over and proclaimed that all vaccination-related activity will be done and overseen solely by the government.
He also stated that the Union Home Ministry would conduct daily and hourly reviews of the entire process.
“Imagine what might have happened in India if vaccines had not been developed. When you look at the history of the last 50-60 years, you’ll notice that getting vaccines from overseas takes decades,” the Prime Minister added.
India also informed the world that it was committed to becoming the world’s vaccine capital and that it has begun supplying vaccinations to other countries. Other projects, such as ‘Vaccine Maitri,’ are now being recognised.
India deserves tremendous credit for growing its vaccine manufacturing capability, according to Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Wellcome Trust.
When the vaccinations were first produced, Seth F Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, said pledges and strategies were in place to assure widespread inoculation.
The Indian government gave Covid vaccines to countries like Dominica in February 2021 as part of its much-discussed Vaccine Maitri programme, and the gift was well received by all.
According to government sources, the Vaccine Maitri should help India earn new friends while also deepening old friendships.
During the peak of global assistance in the aftermath of the second wave (summer of 2021), then-Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla stated that India is receiving international assistance and support based on the age-old humanitarian formula, “We have given assistance, and so we are receiving assistance.”
Oxfam International Executive Director Gabriela Bucher raised her worries about ‘vaccine equality and vaccine equity’ at the World Economic Forum in Davos once again. According to Bucher, India has set a “positive example” that everyone should follow in order to maintain vaccine equity.
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