Vaccine Maitri: Centre permits export of Covishield & Covaxin doses to neighboring nations

Union government of India on Thursday permitted supply of vaccine doses to various countries including Iran, Nepal, Myanmar & Banglesh under country’s push for ‘Vaccine Maitri’. decision comes after government permitted export of vaccine after halting it for several months.

Govt permits export of Covaxin & Covishield doses

Sources privy with matter apprised that Centre h approved export of 10 lakh vaccine doses of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin to Iran and export of 10 lakh doses each of Serum Institute’s Covishield to Nepal, Myanmar and Banglesh. decision comes after Centre h earlier declared to extend its support to world for vaccine equity, as country is continuing to record vaccination in record numbers domestically. 

Two weeks ago, Nepal’s envoy to India said that Nepal was looking forward to expanding its vaccination program and was waiting to receive vaccines me in India. Expecting a larger consignment of vaccines, Nepal's envoy to India Nilamber Acharya said on Sept 22 that Nepal h placed an order of 2 million vaccines with Pune-based pharmaceutical company Serum Institute of India. 

To bolster India’s commitment towards global vaccine equity, Covishield vaccine producer, Serum Institute of India has asserted its support for India’s decision of re-opening COVID vaccine export. On September 22, world’s largest vaccine manufacturer has announced that it will be able to supply over 22 crore doses of Covishield in coming month.

As per a PTI report, SII has apprised Central government that firm has enhanced its production capacity of Covishield and it will be able to supply 21.90 crore doses in October to Government of India and private hospitals. pharma company has increased its manufacturing capacity several folds and is now capable of producing more than 20 crore doses per month. 

Vaccine Maitri Initiative 

Vaccine Maitri is a humanitarian initiative undertaken by Indian Government to provide COVID vaccines to countries around world. initiative commenced on January 20, 2021. As of May 9, 2021, India h shipped around 66.3 million vaccines. Of se, over 10 million doses were gifted to 47 nations by Government.

India crosses 92.63 crore vaccination mark

India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has reached 92.63 crores, according to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, after 43,09,525 vaccine doses were ministered in last 24 hours. As of 7 a.m. on Thursday, 92,63,68,608 vaccine doses h been ministered during 90,14,182 sessions.

Image: PTI/ Twitter