India is considering restarting export Kovid-19 vaccines soon, mainly Africa, as it has partially immunized most of its adults and increased supplies, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
Overall, the world’s largest manufacturer of vaccines, India, stopped Vaccination esports in April to focus on vaccinating its population as infections explode.
The government wants to vaccinate all of its 944 million adults by December and so far 61% of them have been given at least one dose.
The resumption of export discussions comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington next week, where the leaders of the Quad countries – the United States, India, Japan and Australia – are likely to discuss vaccines at the summit. “The export decision is a done deal,” said the source, who He declined to be named as he was not authorized to speak to the media on the matter. “India wants to help Africa with both the vaccine and its COVID operational model.”
India’s foreign ministry, a senior official of which met with the head of the World Health Organization on Monday, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The ministry coordinates India’s vaccine exports. The WHO on Tuesday said it is in constant talks with Indian authorities to resume supplies to the global vaccine-sharing platform COVAX.
“We have been assured that supplies will resume this year,” senior WHO official Bruce Aylward told a briefing. “We’re hoping that we can get an assurance that it can begin later this year and even more rapidly in the coming weeks.”
Before India stopped exporting, it donated or sold 66 million doses to nearly 100 countries. India’s own vaccinations have jumped since last month, especially as the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine maker, more than doubled its production of the AstraZeneca shot to 150 million doses a month from April levels. Have given.
A government source told Reuters in June that US experience has shown vaccination slows down after large numbers of people get their shots. This may give India an opportunity to export additional production, the source said.
The African Union on Tuesday accused manufacturers of denying them a fair chance to buy vaccines and urged manufacturing countries – especially India – to lift export restrictions.
Of the 5.7 billion doses of coronavirus vaccines administered worldwide, only 2% are in Africa
Overall, the world’s largest manufacturer of vaccines, India, stopped Vaccination esports in April to focus on vaccinating its population as infections explode.
The government wants to vaccinate all of its 944 million adults by December and so far 61% of them have been given at least one dose.
The resumption of export discussions comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington next week, where the leaders of the Quad countries – the United States, India, Japan and Australia – are likely to discuss vaccines at the summit. “The export decision is a done deal,” said the source, who He declined to be named as he was not authorized to speak to the media on the matter. “India wants to help Africa with both the vaccine and its COVID operational model.”
India’s foreign ministry, a senior official of which met with the head of the World Health Organization on Monday, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The ministry coordinates India’s vaccine exports. The WHO on Tuesday said it is in constant talks with Indian authorities to resume supplies to the global vaccine-sharing platform COVAX.
“We have been assured that supplies will resume this year,” senior WHO official Bruce Aylward told a briefing. “We’re hoping that we can get an assurance that it can begin later this year and even more rapidly in the coming weeks.”
Before India stopped exporting, it donated or sold 66 million doses to nearly 100 countries. India’s own vaccinations have jumped since last month, especially as the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine maker, more than doubled its production of the AstraZeneca shot to 150 million doses a month from April levels. Have given.
A government source told Reuters in June that US experience has shown vaccination slows down after large numbers of people get their shots. This may give India an opportunity to export additional production, the source said.
The African Union on Tuesday accused manufacturers of denying them a fair chance to buy vaccines and urged manufacturing countries – especially India – to lift export restrictions.
Of the 5.7 billion doses of coronavirus vaccines administered worldwide, only 2% are in Africa
.