Covid-19 diplomacy now underway

• AstraZeneca has partnered with Serum Institute of India (SII) for the supply of the vaccine to the Indian Govt
• Both India and China have strategic interests in Sri Lanka
• The world is gearing for mass inoculation while steps are underway in Sri Lanka to access effective vaccines

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in his last Sunday’s encounter with people in Uhana, Ampara, said he wrote to both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping asking for cooperation in accessing Covid-19 vaccines being developed or manufactured in their respective countries. 
Both India and China have strategic interests in Sri Lanka. The hiatus afforded by the pandemic is opening up a new platform for the display of Covid-19 diplomacy. 

Countries across the globe cooperated with each other in fighting Covid-19 right from the beginning. It is now the time for the roll-out of effective vaccines in collaboration with each other. Already, inoculation is underway for urgent requirements in a host of countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, India, China and Russia.   

Vaccine-cooperation is viewed as a tool for fostering bilateral ties and building a reservoir of goodwill among the countries. The whole world is gearing for mass inoculation, and procedural steps are in progress in Sri Lanka to gain access to effective vaccines. It has already held talks with the respective countries in this respect. As things stand at the moment, AstraZeneca, Russian Sputnik V vaccine and vaccines developed by China are considered as the possible options for inoculation of Sri Lanka people.  None of them has yet been registered with the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA).

"President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, told people in Uhana, Ampara that he wrote to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping asking for cooperation in accessing Covid-19 vaccines"

AstraZeneca has partnered with Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, for the supply of the vaccine to the Indian Government and also to a large number of low and middle-income countries.
Sri Lanka has sought access to vaccines from India. Sri Lanka’s interest was communicated to Indian External Affairs Minister Dr.S. Jaishankar by President Rajapaksa during bilateral discussions recently.  The Indian Minister said he would carry back this message with him. 

"Already, inoculation is underway for urgent requirements in a host of countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, India, China and Russia"

Covid-19 diplomacy is something being employed by the vaccine developing and manufacturing countries in the development of international relations these days. It has even manifested in the form a competition among them.  In vaccine cooperation, the countries which are allies or have  common interests under normal circumstances, are joining hands together under the pandemic situation  in terms of the  conduct of clinical trials of vaccines, their manufacturing and distribution for inoculation of the general public.   The geopolitical and economic interests cannot be the sole factor that defines Covid-19 vaccine cooperation, though. Cold chain requirements and pricing of each vaccine will also contribute to it.  However, the pattern that underpins global alignments of countries in terms of economic and political interests is reflected in Covid-19 vaccine cooperation, more or less.  
Sputnik V has been registered in Argentina, Bolivia, Serbia and Algeria. The two vaccines developed by China are already in use in Indonesia with prospects of them being accepted in other ASEAN member states (Association of South-East Asian Nations). 

"Sri Lanka is planning to seek the goodwill of both India and China in accessing sufficient stocks of vaccines for mass vaccination whenever approval is given"

Sri Lanka is planning to seek the goodwill of both India and China in accessing sufficient stocks of vaccines for mass vaccination whenever approval is given.  The President has written to the leaders of both the countries asking for assistance. Both sides have responded positively to Sri Lanka’s request. 
With India, procedural work is now ongoing for the registration of the vaccine with the NMRA. 

"Countries across the globe cooperated with each other in fighting Covid-19 right from the beginning. It is now the time for the roll-out of effective vaccines in collaboration with each other"

Besides, a spokesman of the Chinese embassy in Colombo said Beijing would attach high priority to the request by the Sri Lankan President.  The spokesman said China would respond positively. According to him, the two Chinese vaccines- Sinopharm and sinovac are safe and easy to be stored  
The Covid-19 vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech is said to be 78 percent effective according to a late-stage trial in Brazil.   Brazil and Indonesia are preparing to roll out the vaccine, this month. Turkey, Chile, Singapore, Ukraine and Thailand have also struck supply deals with Sinovac at the moment.
In this manner, Sri Lanka is trying to maintain healthy relations with both the countries.