“India’s Crisis is Our Crisis,†says petition urging Biden-Harris administration to send India vaccines.
As India battles a second deadly coronavirus wave, IMPACT is launching a public #SendIndiaVaccines campaign to urge the Biden-Harris administration to take bold global action.
The Indian American community organization is partnering with a coalition of organizations including Indiaspora, Pratham USA, NAAIS, SAAPRI, and more to urge the Biden-Harris administration to send India vaccines.
India Monday recorded 2,22,315 new infections in a single day, the lowest in 38 days, pushing the total tally of Covid-19 cases to 26.75 million, while the death toll crossed the 300,000 mark, according to Indian Health Ministry data.
Meanwhile, the United States is sitting on a surplus of nearly 100 million vaccines, IMPACT noted citing experts.
READ MORE: AAPI asks senators to press White House to send vaccines to India (May 7, 2021)
“The Biden administration needs to act immediately to send these lifesaving vaccines to India and take steps to end the pandemic globally,†it said. “We can’t afford to wait any longer.â€
While the Biden administration has taken a first step by sending aid to India and committing to share the vaccines globally, this moment requires a response proportional to the scale of the crisis, it said.
The NOVID Act, spearheaded by Indian American House member Raja Krishnamoorthi, would allocate $19 billion to fight the pandemic globally.
“That is the kind of response we need to truly defeat this virus,†IMPACT said asking the public to “add your voice†#SendIndiaVaccines campaign.
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“India’s Crisis is Our Crisis,†says a petition initiated by IMPACT. “The world is battling a devastating surge in Covid-19 infections, with India seeing hundreds of thousands of new cases every day.â€
“The surge has crippled India’s healthcare infrastructure, and hospitals are running out of oxygen, beds, and PPE,†it says noting, “India is only the third country to surpass 250,000 official deaths.â€
Citing Indian American public health expert Dr. Ashish Jha, IMPACT said nearly 25,000 people may be dying on a daily basis. Mass crematoriums are burning through the night.
“The world needs to step up, and America can lead the way,†it said asking the public to join advocacy efforts by signing and sharing the petition on their social platforms.
“This is not an Indian crisis, but a global one,†IMPACT said. “To bring this pandemic to an end, the United States must lead the way on expanding vaccine supplies in India and the rest of the world.â€
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