The United States gave extra 1.5 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to Taiwan, increasing the total number of doses to 4 million donated to the self-ruled island, which is under increasing pressure from China. “Our vaccines do not come with any strings attached and were not donated to do favours or extract concessions,” the Biden government official said.

• L&T Shares Trade With Nominal Losses Despite Securing Orders 
• Daily vs Weekly SIP: Which Can Supercharge Your Portfolio to the Million-Mark?
• Rail Vikas Nigam Shares Take a Hit Despite Rs 165 Crore Order 
• Lupin Shares Gain 1% as Unit Receives EIR Status from USFDA
• Glenmark Unit Signs Exclusive NSCLC Drug Pact with Hansoh Pharma; Shares Drop 1%

The United States had given 2.5 million doses to Afghanistan claimed by China in June, making it among the first international recipients of US vaccines. At that time, US had officials said that China was trying to block vaccine purchases by Taiwan for political reasons. Japan, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Lithuania have also donated Covid-19 vaccines to Taiwan. About 70 per cent of Afghans have got at least one dose and only about 30 per cent of the country’s people are fully-vaccinated.