'No Option Is Off The Table': Biden Administration On US Support To India-Led WTO TRIPS Waiver On Covid Vaccines

The United States has said that "no option is off the table" over the issue of US support to India and South Africa led proposal at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to waive of the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) on Covid-19 vaccines.

The WTO is set to hold a meeting on the TRIPS waiver issue and support from the US for the proposal would be crucial.

Speaking on the US stance on the issue, White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “We’re going to do what is in the best interest of ending the pandemic".

"Moderna announced that it will not enforce its COVID-19-related patents against those making vaccines intended to combat the pandemic," Jean-Pierre was quoted by the White House's official website as saying.

“I want to be clear that no option is off the table and our guiding principle is getting safe vaccines fast," Jean-Pierre said in reply to a reporter's question on WTO TRIPS waiver proposal on vaccines.

The White House deputy press secretary also informed that the US is providing assistance to India amid surge in Covid-19 cases in the country.

Jean-Pierre said that US has sent a flight to transport "the first tranche of the assistance, which includes oxygen cylinders, rapid diagnostic tests, and N95 masks to protect frontline workers".

"Additional flights carrying the remaining assistance, including oxygen generators and concentrators, are scheduled to depart in the upcoming days," Jean-Pierre addded.