A senior State Department official while defending US’s restrictions on the export of key raw materials for the manufacture of Covid-19 vaccine that threatens to slow India’s vaccination drive, has said that the Biden administration’s first obligation is to take care of the requirements of the American people.

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When asked exactly when the US administration led by Biden would decide on India’s request to lift a ban on the export of vaccine raw materials, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said, “The United States first and foremost is engaged in an ambitious and effective and, so far, successful effort to vaccinate the American people. ”

He also added, “That campaign is well underway, and we’re doing that for a couple of reasons. Number one, we have a special responsibility to the American people. Number two, the American people, this country has been hit harder than any other country around the world more than 550,000 deaths, tens of millions of infections in this country alone.”

He further added, “It is not only in the US interest to see Americans vaccinated; but it is in the interests of the rest of the world to see Americans vaccinated.”

In response to questions, Mr. Price said, “The point the Secretary (of State Antony Blinken) has made repeatedly is that as long as the virus is spreading anywhere, it is a threat to people everywhere. So as long as the virus is spreading uncontrolled in this country, it can mutate and it can travel beyond our borders. That, in turn, poses a threat well beyond the United States.”

He went on to add, “As for the rest of the world, we will, of course, always do as much as we can, consistent with our first obligation.”

In a second wave, India is currently facing a massive surge in Covid-19 infections. On Friday, the country added a record over 3.32 lakh new coronavirus cases in a single day taking the country’s tally to 1,62,63,695. The number of active cases crossed the 24-lakh mark.

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The US administration led by Biden recently conveyed to New Delhi that it understands India’s pharmaceutical requirements and promised to give the matter due consideration.

Biden administration observed 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 prioritize domestic consumption.

In one of the rare acts of commonality, 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.

United States has ramped up the production of Covid-19 vaccines mostly by Pfizer and Moderna to meet the goal of vaccinating its entire population by July 4.

The suppliers of the raw-materials or the APIs of the vaccines, which are in high demand globally and sought after by major Indian manufacturers, are being forced to provide it only for domestic manufacturers in the US.

Serum Institute of India, which recently saw a fire causing damage worth more than Rs 1,000 crore, affecting the Rotavirus and BCG vaccine manufacturing and storage unit, is the world’s largest producer of the Covid-19 vaccine.

In recent weeks, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India’s Ambassador to the US, has been taking up the matter with the officials in Biden administration.

State Department spokesperson Price said that the US has played a leadership role when it comes to containing the virus beyond its borders.

He said, “We have re-engaged with the WHO on day one, the USD 2 billion we have contributed to COVAX, with 2 billion more on the way. When it comes to our own hemisphere, the loan arrangement with Canada and Mexico, and when it comes to India, the Quad and the arrangement with the Quad, including to increase production capacity in India.”

He further added, “So as we are more comfortable in our position here at home, as we are confident that we are able to address any contingencies as they may arise, I expect we will be able to do more.”