India Says Covid Vaccine Exports To Restart In October
Muhammad Irfan Published September 20, 2021 | 10:40 PM
New Delhi, Sept 20 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Sep, 2021 ) :India will resume exporting Covid-19 vaccines from October, five months after it stopped sending supplies abroad in the face of a deadly wave of infections, the health minister said Monday.
The South Asian giant, dubbed the "pharmacy of the world", was a major supplier to the Covax programme aimed at ensuring poor countries can access doses.
Exports stopped in April, according to foreign ministry data, when a virus surge in India pushed the healthcare system to breaking point and there was a huge demand for jabs.
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said more than 300 million vaccine doses would be produced in October and one billion in the last three months of the year.
"India will be resuming export of vaccines... in order to fulfill the commitment of India towards Covax," Mandaviya said in a statement.
"The surplus supply of vaccines will be used to fulfill our commitment towards the world for the collective fight against Covid-19." Covax is co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Gavi vaccine alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, with UNICEF using its vaccine logistics expertise to handle the delivery flights.
Under Covax, the 92 poorest countries can access jabs for free, with donors covering the cost.
The Serum Institute of India (SII) plant, producing AstraZeneca doses, was supposed to be the early backbone of Covax's supply chain.
A Gavi spokesman welcomed the news from New Delhi.
"This could have an immense positive impact on both health security within India as well as globally," he told AFP.
"Our priority right now is to engage with the government of India and the SII to understand the impact this will have on our supply schedule, as we race to protect as many vulnerable people as we can from Covid-19." Some 5.9 billion coronavirus vaccine doses have been administered around the world, according to an AFP count.
So far, Covax has shipped 286 million doses -- far below where it wanted to be at this stage -- to 141 participating economies.
In a tweet, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged world leaders to "guarantee vaccine equity and equitable access to other Covid-19 tools".
Launched in January, India's vaccination campaign was slow to take off because of shortages and hesitancy among the population.
But the pace has picked up in recent weeks, with authorities currently administering between five to eight million coronavirus shots every day.
The country hit a record 22 million coronavirus jabs in a day on Friday as part of a special vaccination drive for the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
PTA Undertakes Consultation with All Pakistan Network Association (APNA) on Prop ..
KP Minister attends Fourth International Public Health Conference at KMU
Azam Khan likely to miss T20I series against Kiwis due to discomfort in right kn ..
Badar Shahbaz Warraich appointed as PM’s media coordinator
Finance Minister rules out rupee devaluation in talks with IMF
National team determined for good performance against New Zealand: Babar Azam
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 18 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 18 April 2024
Saka and Odegaard start for Arsenal, Guerreiro in Bayern midfield
Qatar PM says re-evaluating Israel-Hamas mediation role
Govt spokesperson terms allegations of PTI's Marwat against Saudi Arabia 'heinou ..
Minister appreciate UAE’s support for Pakistan economic challenges
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
3 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
4 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
4 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur presents program “Eidi Shidi”
7 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur to broadcast Eid programs
9 days ago -
DC, DPO Haripur inspect bus terminals to review fares compliance
11 days ago
-
Second phase of refugees’ repatriation to start after Eidul Fitr vacations
11 days ago -
Reaping bounties as Ramazan culminates
11 days ago -
Digital transformation – a boon or bane
11 days ago -
Plants’ business: Another casualty of climate change
13 days ago -
Eid shoppers prioritize children’s joy over personal comforts
13 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre honoring Pir Hassam din Rashdi to take place on April 1
18 days ago