In January 2021, India launched the Vaccine Maitri (Vaccine Friendship) initiative - a major diplomatic effort to gift and supply made-in-India vaccines to low-income and developing countries globally.
Stelis Biopharma, the biopharmaceutical arm of Strides Pharma Science, said it could not sell 2.5 crore units of the single-dose vaccine manufactured by it due to several constraints following the Russian-Ukraine war.
The Centre on March 15 released guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination of children between 12-14 years beginning March 16. Corbevax vaccine would be used for the beneficiaries of this age group.
In November, the government expects availability of more than 30 crore vaccines, which will help expand Vaccine Maitri.
India, the world's largest producer of vaccines overall, suspended exports of COVID-19 vaccines in April to focus on inoculating its own population following a sudden spike in infections.
India has exported Covid vaccine doses to Myanmar, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Iran, sources informed on Sunday.According to sources, Myanmar, Nepal, and Bangladesh received ten lakh doses of Covishield each, while Iran received three lakh doses of Covaxin.
India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti on Friday said that India has provided medical related assistance and subsequently, vaccines to numerous countries all over the world.
Serum Institute of India (SII) has supplied 20.29 lakh doses of Covishield to the Union ministry of health in September as committed in August by Prakash Kumar Singh, director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at the Pune-based firm.
India will resume the export of surplus vaccines in the fourth quarter of 2021 under ‘Vaccine Maitri' and meet its commitment to COVAX. COVAX is a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines directed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the World Health Organization.
The invitation comes at a time when inadequate supplies and inequitable distribution of vaccines have raised the fear that the twin issues might delay global recovery from the pandemic.
UK's refusal too recognize Covishield is inexplicable and a terrible signal
Get updates on your preferred social platform
Follow us for the latest news, insider access to events and more.
