India restarts vaccine exports in tune with 'Neighbourhood First' mantra
Oct 10, 2021
By Naveen Kapoor/Amit Kumar
New Delhi [India], October 10 : India has pressed the restart button to supply COVID-19 vaccines along with initial supplies in this round to the neighbourhood. It is learnt that India has recently sent Covid vaccines to Iran, Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh.
Both Bangladesh and Iran each received one million doses of "Made-in-India" vaccines.
Made-in-India COVID-19 vaccines are in huge demand especially in the neighbourhood, it is learnt that during several diplomatic engagements, the majority of south Asian neighbours had time and again urged India to restart the export of vaccines.
India had to freeze its "Vaccine Maitri" program in early May this year as the country was severely hit by a deadly second wave of the COVID-19. It is the last month India announced that it is reopening the export of Covid vaccines.
During this gap of nearly five months, China entered this sphere and supplied a massive number of Sinapharm vaccines in the region.
However, the efficacy of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine was always in question and people in the region have more trust in "Made-in-India" vaccines, a source told ANI.
Differences in Sinopharm pricing kicked storm in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. According to reports, China sold vaccines to different regional partners at different pricing, this has already created massive controversy in Nepal, Bangladesh and also Sri Lanka.
One source told ANI that most south Asian countries are looking up to India for the vaccine supply to the region.
In the last few months, India ramped up its production and speeded its Covid vaccination drive on a big scale. Nearly 95 crore Indians have at least received the first dose of vaccine.
India's decision to reopen exports of vaccines is welcomed by the International community. Quad, the United States and countries of the European Union (EU) appreciated India's move.
India's step to open vaccine supplies is a major boost to the world in general and South Asia in particular.
