New Delhi: India, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of inoculations, plans to offer 20 million doses of coronavirus vaccine to its neighbors as it draws up a policy to supply vials to countries across the globe, people with knowledge of the matter said.
An Indian state-run company will buy vaccines from the Serum Institute of India Ltd. and Bharat Biotech International Ltd. for supplying to Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Seychelles and Mauritius, the people said, asking not to be identified as the plan is still under discussion. Some of supplies may be free and treated as aid, they added.
The first batch of the vials will be shipped over the next two weeks, the people said. The government will then offer the vaccines to countries in Latin America, Africa and the former Soviet republics. A spokesperson for Bharat Biotech couldn’t immediately comment while a spokesman at Serum declined to comment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keen to tap India’s leadership in vaccine manufacturing by helping countries battling the pandemic and raise the South Asian nation’s profile to rival China, which is also supplying its home-grown inoculations around the world. Brazil, with more than 8 million cases, has sought urgent supplies and so has South Africa.
Brazil is sending an aircraft to India after Modi agreed to expedite vaccine shipments, according to the nation’s Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello. Serum will supply 2 million vaccines to the South American nation.
Serum’s Chief Executive Officer Adar Poonawalla in an interview this month said he expected overseas supplies to only start around March, adding that the government will enable overseas sales after first meeting India’s initial requirements.
The Serum Institute is manufacturing a coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca Plc while Bharat Biotech’s is an indigenous one. – Bloomberg
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India only has 50mils dose of AstraZeneca licensed pre-produced vaccines from SI labelled as Covishield, barely enough for its 1400mils population 1st phase frontline inoculation.
Covaxin has not even done Phase3 trial as unable to recruit enough 25,000 volunteers required. Both vaccines without any data for review are rush approved for “emergency” usage. What’s reason?
Modi is also starting to brag India will save the world with its vaccines, and help the world with its COVID experience as the lowest fatality nation. Sound weird for a No.2 worst infected nation with disastrous lockdown and no ready vaccines even for own dying population?
India gov announced it has ordered 11Mils dose of SI Covishield, so everyone asking what happen to remaining 39Mils dose?
Now we know, they will be exported and give as aids to all wealthier neighbors and Africa to compete with China for geopolitical influence.
Just like while 90% Indians live in poverty, 40% has no toilet access & illiterate, 15% starving, whole infrastructure-medical-education system is broken, a high debt-to-GDP ratio of 90%, a collapsing economy, India is going around acting like rich superpower giving out $Bils aids everywhere.
What’s not good for the world when India will so generously offer others what its own population can’t afford. Even offering a $2Bils aids & submarine gift for Myanmar when India Navy hardly has any working submarine.