Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Tuesday said India is likely to play a key role in the manufacturing of the coronavirus vaccine. Speaking on India’s role in vaccine development and manufacturing, Gates said that the world is looking towards India for sharing responsibility on behalf of developing countries. He opined that India’s willingness to play a significant role in vaccine production and providing access to other developing countries will be a critical step in fighting the virus.
“India is a leading vaccine producer; we need cooperation from India on manufacturing Covid-19 vaccine,” Bill Gates told PTI.
“All of us want to get a vaccine out in India as fast as we can, once we know that it’s very effective and very safe,” Gates added.
Bill Gates also hopes that the COVID vaccine will be rolled out from India next year. “It’s very likely that roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine will take place in fairly big volume (in India) sometime next year. I’m quite optimistic that by the first quarter of next year, several of Covid-19 vaccines will have the final stage,” said Gates.
“India’s willingness to play a big role in manufacturing vaccines, and sending some of these to developing countries will be critical,” he added.
As international vaccine companies and academic institutions race the clock to deliver a safe Covid-19 vaccine, all eyes are on India that makes 60% of the world’s vaccines.
Had an extensive interaction with @BillGates. We discussed issues ranging from India’s efforts to fight Coronavirus, work of the @gatesfoundation in battling COVID-19, role of technology, innovation and producing a vaccine to cure the pandemic. https://t.co/UlxEq72i3L
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 14, 2020
