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S Jaishankar: “India to gift 2 lakh doses of COVID vaccine to UN Peacekeeping forces”

February 18, 2021
The Commune 
Featured Image: Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar (File Photo)

As India keeps sending its indigenously manufactured vaccines to counter the COVID-19 pandemic, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday (17 February) announced that India would gift two lakh doses of India-made vaccines to UN Peacekeeping forces.

Jaishankar made the announcement while delivering an address at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Open Debate on the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

In his virtual address to the UN Security Council, Jaishankar said, “Keeping in mind the UN Peacekeepers who operate in such difficult circumstances, we would like to announce today a gift of 200,000 doses for them.”

Quoting the Bhagavad Gita, Jaishankar said, “Do your work with the welfare of others always in mind.”
 
Shortly after the announcement, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti tweeted, “Protecting the Protectors! External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar announces a gift of 200,000 doses of vaccines for UN peacekeepers at #UNSC. India responds immediately to request of @UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres.”

Jaishankar told the UNSC that India is now the ‘pharmacy of the world’ and is working to provide critical medicines, diagnostic kits, ventilators and PPEs to more than 150 countries. He added that almost 80 nations will receive aid from India on a grant basis.

“Today, the pharmacy of the world is stepping forward to meet the global vaccines challenge,” he said.

He also informed the council that that two vaccines, including one that is indigenously developed, have already been granted emergency authorisation and as many as 30 vaccine candidates are under various stages of development.

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