‘India on track to produce over 5 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses in 2022’: PM Modi at G20 summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about the COVID-19 vaccine production goals set by India for the next year during his address at the G-20 Summit session in Rome on October 30. He also talked about the importance of getting Indian vaccines recognized by the WHO at the earliest.

During his address at the 'Global Economy and Global Health' session, PM Modi also brought up the issue of facilitating international travel, which can be achieved by a mechanism of mutual recognition of vaccine certification, as per reports.

PM Modi said, “India has always been serious about its global obligations. Today, on this G-20 platform, I want to tell you all that India is preparing to produce more than 5 billion vaccine doses for the world next year. This commitment of India will go a long way in preventing this infection. Therefore, it is necessary that Indian vaccines be recognized by WHO at the earliest.”

PM Modi further talked about his vision of 'One Earth - One Health' across the world which will lead to innovations in the healthcare sector. The prime minister also talked about the “need for resilient global supply chains and leveraging technology for human empowerment.”

During my remarks, I highlighted aspects relating to India’s contributions in the global fight against COVID-19, the vision of ‘One Earth, One Health’, furthering innovation in healthcare, need for resilient global supply chains and leveraging technology for human empowerment.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 30, 2021

This is the first in-person G20 summit which is been conducted since the COVID-19 outbreak across the world. PM Modi further discussed how India has been able to cross the one billion mark in administering COVID-19 vaccines, which has further controlled the coronavirus pandemic.

He said, “Along with this, we also put our full strength in increasing vaccine research and manufacturing. In a short span of time, we have administered over one billion vaccine doses in India. By controlling the infection in one-sixth of the world's population, India has also contributed to making the world safer, and has also reduced the chances of further mutation of the virus.”

On the third day of his visit to Italy for the G20 summit, PM Modi is set to attend bilateral meetings with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He will also visit the Trevi Fountain, which is one of the most popular monuments in Rome.