India can return 20 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to America later, says USISPF

The immediate supply of 20 million doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine could be treated as a borrowing, with the industry proposing that India may return the doses at a later date in the year as production here stabilises.

"A creative proposal we have is on the Astra Zeneca vaccines. Our proposal was that 20 million doses could be (immediately) sent to India as a gift and that these could be returned by India later in the year," Mukesh Aghi, President and CEO of the US India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), which has been working with the US government and corporate sector to extend Covid 19 support said.

The industry leader said that the proposal has been shared with the US government and he is hopeful that it would be processed at the earliest. As reported by ET, the US is set to provide the vaccine doses to India but a timeline is yet to be specified.

The industry has been playing a leading role in directing Covid related aid to India, with meetings with top Biden administration officials and corporates already pledging support.

Aghi said that US aid worth $ 100 million has started pouring in and a significant amount is expected to be in India by next week, including corporate donations. The US Industry support is not limited to oxygen related supplies and medicines, with Aghi saying that a key focus in the coming days will be on extending health care to rural India.