Statement by India under Panel discussion on ensuring equitable, affordable, timely and universal access for all countries to vaccines in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, at the 49th Session of the Human Rights Council (28 February – 01 April 2022), Permanent Mission of India (Geneva, 10 March 2022) Statement by India under Panel discussion on ensuring equitable, affordable, timely and universal ac..

Statement by India under Panel discussion on ensuring equitable, affordable, timely and universal access for all countries to vaccines in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, at the 49th Session of the Human Rights Council (28 February – 01 April 2022), Permanent Mission of India (Geneva, 10 March 2022)

Statement by India under Panel discussion on ensuring equitable, affordable, timely and universal access for all countries to vaccines in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, at the 49th Session of the Human Rights Council (28 February – 01 April 2022),  Permanent Mission of India  (Geneva, 10 March 2022)

 

Mr. President,

          My delegation welcomes High Commissioner’s and DG, WHO’s opening remarks as well as takes note of other key note speakers’ and panellists’ views on this extremely relevant subject.

The unprecedented socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been borne disproportionately by the most vulnerable segments of our societies, especially in the developing and least developed countries.       

          In India, nearly 1.8 billion shots of COVID vaccines have been administered as of yesterday to all eligible beneficiaries. Vaccination also began in January this year for children in the age group of 15 to 18 years. Precautionary third doses are now also being given to healthcare and frontline workers and senior citizens.

          India always believed that the pandemic poses a threat to the entire humanity and that the rightful response would be a collective one. We have been strongly advocating for the principle of equity in the WHO and have also proposed, along with South Africa, a TRIPS waiver at the WTO for COVID vaccines, diagnostics and medicines.

          We have taken initiatives to share medicines, PPE, test kits, other medical and health products and for training programmes, capacity building projects, recognition of vaccination certificates etc. as part of the global fight against COVID-19. Nearly 163 million doses of vaccines have been supplied to 96 countries and 2 UN entities in the form of grant, through commercial export or the COVAX facility since January 2021. Along with our Quad partners, we have collectively provided more than 500 million vaccine doses and have pledged to donate more than 1.3 billion doses globally. Under the Quad Vaccine Partnership, production is rapidly progressing in India with the aim to deliver at least 1 billion doses by the end of 2022. We are also grateful for the extensive support received from our partner countries around the world during the second wave of the pandemic.

The issue of inequity in access to vaccines needs to be addressed as a top priority.

I thank you.

*****