India dispatches 1st consignment containing 1.5 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine to Bhutan

India in wee hours of Wednesday dispatched first consignment of 1.5 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine 'Covishield' to Thimpu, Bhutan from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai. According to sources, consignment containing 1.5 lakh doses of vaccine will reach Thimpu today. Bhutan is first country to receive Government of India's gift of  COVID-19 vaccines which are manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII). 

RE | 13,693 Frontline Health Workers Get COVID-19 Vaccine

India dispatches first Covid vaccine consignment to Bhutan

In line with India-Bhutan's unique and special relations, India h ensured a continuous supply of tre and essential items to Bhutan, despite Coronavirus restrictions. India so far has provided essential medicines and medical supplies- including paracetamol, hydroxychloroquine, PPEs, N95 masks, x-ray machines and test kits worth over Rs 2.8 crores to Bhutan. Apart from this, India has also entered into an "Air Travel Arrangement" or "Transparent Bubble" agreement with Bhutan. 

RE | rway: COVID-19 Vaccine Has ' Direct Link' With Post-iculation Deaths

As per sources, since outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, India in past has facilitated repatriation of over 2,000 Bhutanese nationals stranded in various parts of India. It also facilitated repatriation of 14 Bhutanese nationals stranded in third countries through Vande Bharat flights to India and ir onwards journey to Bhutan. 

RE | Russia's Second COVID-19 Vaccine EpiVacCorona '100% Effective' In Early Trials: Report

PM Modi: 'Houred to be a long-trusted partner'

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that India is "deeply houred" to be a long-trusted partner in meeting healthcare needs of global community.  Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a release on Tuesday that government of India has received several requests for supply of Indian manufactured vaccines from neighbouring and key partner countries.

RE | Serum Institute Of India To Launch Country's First Domestically-produced Pneumonia Vaccine

India has given emergency use authorisation to two COVID-19 vaccines being manufactured in country - Covishield and Covaxin. While Covishield has been developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, Covaxin is an indigeus vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Ministry said that it will be ensured that domestic manufacturers will have equate stocks to meet domestic requirements while supplying abro.

RE | MoS MEA Muraleedharan To Pay 3-day Visit To UAE; Focus On Welfare Of Indian Workers re

(With ANI inputs)