India, U.S. to collaborate on COVID-19 vaccine trials, say U.S. health officials

News:India and the U.S have decided to work together on vaccine research and testing for COVID-19 under the Indo-U.S. Vaccine Action Program(VAP).

Facts:

• The Indo-US Vaccine Action Programme(VAP) is a bilateral programme established in 1987.
• Aim: To develop and evolve joint R&D projects towards development of safe and efficacious vaccines against some of the major communicable diseases that presently take a large toll in India & USA.
• Nodal Agencies: U.S. National Institutes of Health, Indian Department of Biotechnology(DBT) and Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR) along with other partners.

Additional Facts:

Global Vaccine Action Plan(GVAP):

• It is a framework adopted at the 65th World Health Assembly in 2012 to achieve the vision of the Decade of Vaccines 2011-2020(DoV).
• Aim: To prevent millions of deaths by 2020 through more equitable access to existing vaccines for people in all communities.