There is interest in many countries in accessing vaccines from India. In line with the PM’s announcement that India sees international cooperation in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic as its duty, India played the role of the first responder in our neighborhood as well as undertaken supplies to countries beyond.
From 20 January 2021 onwards, India gifted over 55 lakh (5.5 million) doses of vaccines to its neighboring countries and in its extended neighborhood – Bhutan (1.5 lakh=150 thousand), Maldives (1 lakh=100 thousand), Nepal (10 lakh= 1 million), Bangladesh (20 lakh=2 million), Myanmar (15 lakh=1.5 million), Mauritius (1 lakh=100 thousand), Seychelles (50,000 thousand), Sri Lanka (5 lakhs=500 thousand) and Bahrain (1 lakh=100 thousand). These supplies are based on requests from these countries. Over the next few days, we plan to gift further quantities to Oman (1 lakh=100 thousand), CARICOM countries (5 lakh=500 thousand), Nicaragua (2 lakh=200 thousand) and Pacific Island states (2 lakh=200 thousand).
Commercial exports have taken place to Brazil, Morocco and Bangladesh. Further supplies on a commercial basis are likely to take place to Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Canada, Mongolia, etc. Further, India is going to supply 1 crore (10 million) doses to Africa and 10 lakh (1 million) to UN health workers under GAVI’s COVAX facility.
India’s external supplies, whether as gifts or on a commercial basis, are based on domestic availability, licensing issues and regulatory approvals in the countries concerned.
India will continue to supply vaccines to partner countries over the coming weeks and months in a phased manner. Decisions on these supplies will, of course, be calibrated against the requirements of the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine at home.
