India offers to vaccinate all 95,000 UN peacekeepers

India will donate 2,00,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines for the United Nations’ peacekeepers deployed in the conflict zones around the world, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday.

He also called upon the nations to desist from “vaccine nationalism”.

His appeal came even as the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, pointed out that only 10 countries had so far administered 75% of all the vaccines, while more than 130 countries had not yet received a single dose.

“Those affected by conflict & (and) insecurity are being left behind. Everyone, everywhere, must be vaccinated as soon as possible,” Guterres posted on Twitter.

The External Affairs Minister participated in a virtual meeting of the Foreign Ministers representing the five permanent and 15 non-permanent members UN Security Council. The meeting was convened by the British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab primarily to discuss access to the Covid-19 vaccines in conflict situations.

The External Affairs Minister pointed out that India had already supplied Covid-19 vaccines to 25 nations, while it would provide the jabs to 49 other countries soon.

He then announced that India would provide the UN with 2,00,000 doses of vaccines exclusively for the UN peacekeepers.

Altogether 81,832 UN peacekeepers are deployed in 13 conflict zones in South and West Asia, Africa and Europe, according to a December 31, 2020 report of the international organisations.

“Do your work with the welfare of others always in mind,” the External Affairs Minister said, quoting the Bhagavad Gita.

Indi, till a week ago, supplied a total of 229.7 lakh doses of the Covid-19 vaccines to the global community – 64.7 lakh doses supplied as a grant, while 165 lakh doses supplied on commercial contracts.

Jaishankar made nine suggestions at the UNSC meeting, including persisting with the vaccination drive, collaboration on genomic surveillance and exchange information, effectively addressing public resistance to vaccines, addressing public resistance to vaccines and improving public health expenditures to build capacity.

“Stop ‘Vaccine nationalism’; promote internationalism. Strengthen COVAX; ensure equitable distribution. Urgently resume immunization programs. Stop disinformation campaigns and proactively prepare for the next global pandemic,” the External Affairs Minister suggested.