India donated or sold 66 million doses to nearly 100 countries before exports stopped (File)
New Delhi:
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya received thanks from the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) this morning as India announced Decision to resume export and donation of additional vaccines from next month.
India – who has earned the degree of pharmacy of the world The country – the largest manufacturer of vaccines overall – put the brakes on vaccine exports in April to focus on vaccinating its population as a tidal wave of infections hit the country.
“Thanks to Health Minister @mansukhmandviya for announcing that #India will resume critical #COVID19 vaccine shipments for #COVAX in October. This is an important step in support of reaching the 40% vaccination target in all countries by the end of the year.” The development is #VaccinEquity posted on Twitter by WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
thanks health minister @mansukhmandviya to announce #India important will resume #COVID-19 vaccine shipment #COVAX In October. This is a significant development in support of reaching the 40% vaccination target in all countries by the end of the year. #vaccineequity
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) September 21, 2021
The WHO and GAVI Vaccine Coalition is leading the COVAX facility, which aims to help procure and distribute vaccination shots against the novel coronavirus around the world.
global supply of COVAX suffered a “big blow” Following the explosion of cases in India, Samantha Power, administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), said in May.
The resumption of export discussions comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington starting Tuesday, where the leaders of the Quad countries – the United States, India, Japan and Australia – are likely to discuss vaccines at a summit.
Mr Mandaviya said the renewed export drive, known as ‘Vaccine Maitri’, will give priority to global vaccine-sharing platform COVAX and neighboring countries.
India’s monthly vaccine production, Mr Madavia said, has more than doubled since April and is set to quadruple next month to more than 300 million doses.
He said the total production in the last three months of the year could be above Rs 100 crore as new vaccines from companies like Organic E are likely to be approved.
“We will help other countries and also fulfill our responsibility towards COVAX…Neighbors (country) first,” he told reporters, adding that only additional supplies would be exported.
India donated or sold 66 million doses to nearly 100 countries before exports stopped.
Bharat Biotech, maker of India’s first domestically grown shot, Covaxin, told Reuters that its monthly production will reach around 100 million doses by the end of the year.
On Monday, Mr Mandaviya told reporters he expected total domestic vaccine production to exceed 1 billion doses in the October-December quarter, which would be more than enough to meet domestic demand.
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