Prime Minister Narendra Modi put India on the front-line of the global fight against Covid-19, by inviting global vaccine manufacturers to “come and make vaccines in India”. “I want to give this information to UNGA that India has developed the world's first DNA vaccine, which can be administered to all people above 12 years of age. Another mRNA vaccine is in its last phase of development. India’s scientists are also engaged in the development of a nasal vaccine for Corona,” Modi said.
The invitation comes at a time when inadequate supplies and inequitable distribution of vaccines have raised the fear that the twin issues might delay global recovery from the pandemic and may appear to be a move to transform India's image as a cause of concern that it looked after the country was ravaged by the "second wave", into an emergency responder and part of the solution. India earned considerable goodwill when the Modi government launched "Vaccine Maitri" initiative to reach vaccines to the under-resourced capitals at a time when developed countries stubbornly refused to look beyond their shores. The second wave, however, derailed the vaccine initiative as New Delhi decided to first look after its own.
