India has began sending Covid-19 vaccines to neighbouring nations to assist them fight the prevalent Coronavirus pandemic. On Wednesday, India dispatched the 1st consignment of 1.5 lakh dosages of Serum Institute of India’s Covishield vaccine from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) to Thimphu in Bhutan. India is also dispatching 1 lakh dosages of Covishield vaccine to Malé in the Maldives from Mumbai airport.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated that India is deeply honoured to be a extended-trusted companion in meeting the healthcare demands of the international neighborhood. “The Government of India has received several requests for the supply of Indian manufactured vaccines from neighbouring and key partner countries. In response to these requests, and in keeping with India’s stated commitment to use India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity to help all of the humanity fight the Covid pandemic,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated.
These nations to get Make-In-India Covid-19 vaccines
The supplies of Covid vaccines to various nations will commence on Wednesday, and more will stick to in the days ahead, PM Modi had tweeted on Tuesday.
India is supplying Covid-19 vaccines to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles, scheduled to commence from today. In respect of Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius, the Government of India is awaiting confirmation of important regulatory clearances from these nations.
Will this effect Covid-19 vaccines roll-out in India?
Keeping in view the domestic needs of the phased roll-out, India will continue to provide Covid-19 vaccines to companion nations more than the coming weeks and months in a phased manner, the MEA stated. The MEA has assured and underlined that it will be ensured that domestic companies will have sufficient stocks to meet domestic needs whilst supplying abroad.
Why is India supplying Covid-19 vaccines to other nations?
In 2020, India had supplied hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir and paracetamol tablets, as effectively as diagnostic kits, ventilators, masks, gloves and other health-related supplies to a massive quantity of nations to cope with Covid-19 pandemic.
India has also supplied coaching to various neighbouring nations to improve and strengthen their clinical capabilities, beneath the Partnerships for Accelerating Clinical Trials (PACT) programme. Separately, various coaching courses have been organized for healthcare workers and administrators of companion nations beneath the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, sharing our knowledge in dealing with the pandemic, the MEA stated.
Apart from these, India will continue to provide nations all more than the globe with Covid-19 vaccines. “This will be calibrated against domestic requirements and international demand and obligations, including under GAVI’s Covax facility to developing countries,” the MEA stated.