WHO chief lauds India, PM Modi for promoting vaccine equity

World Health Organisation (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday thanked India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "supporting vaccine equity". Taking to Twitter, he said, "Thanks India & Prime Minister @narendramodi for supporting #VaccinEquity. Your commitment to #COVAX and sharing #COVID19 vaccine doses is helping 60+ countries start vaccinating their #healthworkers and other priority groups. I hope other countries will follow your example."

Thanks ???????? & Prime Minister @narendramodi for supporting #VaccinEquity. Your commitment to #COVAX and sharing #COVID19 vaccine doses is helping 60+ countries start vaccinating their #healthworkers and other priority groups. I hope other countries will follow your example.

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) February 25, 2021

This is not the first time that Ghebreyesus has praised India. He had tweeted in January and in September last year after PM Modi’s address at the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) acknowledging India's contribution towards fighting the pandemic.

On the other hand, the Brazil health ministry signed a deal with Indian pharmaceutical company Bharat Biotech for the purchase of 20 million doses of the Covaxin vaccine, which is yet to be approved by local regulators.The administration of President Jair Bolsonaro said the first 8 million Covaxin shots, which will be made by Brazilian company Precisa Medicamentos, will arrive in March. A second batch of another 8 million doses is expected for April and in May, another 4 million doses will be available,