New Delhi, India (CU)_ India declared on Tuesday that it will provide COVID-19 vaccines to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles under grant assistance from January 20. The Ministry of External Affairs reported in a statement that many neighboring and main partner countries are requesting for the Indian-made vaccines supply.
The Ministry of External Affairs officially declared that COVID-19 vaccines will be supplied to six countries. It said, “In response to these requests, and in keeping with India’s stated commitment to use India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity to help all of humanity fight the COVID pandemic, supplies under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles will begin from January 20”.
PM Modi said in a tweet, “India is deeply honored to be a long-trusted partner in meeting the healthcare needs of the global community and that supplies of the vaccines to several countries will commence on Wednesday, and more will follow in the days ahead”.
The Ministry stated that it is awaiting confirmation of the essential regulatory clearances for Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius. It said, “In respect of Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius, we are awaiting their confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances”.
A major coronavirus vaccination campaign has already been launched in India, where the two vaccines namely Covishield and Covaxin are being inoculated to frontline health staffs throughout the country. The Covaxin vaccine was manufactured by Bharat Biotech and Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield vaccine was manufactured by the Serum Institute.
In the meantime, Zahid Maleque, Bangladesh’s health minister, said that India will deliver Bangladesh with two million doses of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine (Covishield) as a “gift” on Wednesday. Maleque stated to IANS that according to a letter received from Indian government, a special Air India flight carrying the vaccine supply cargo will land at Dhaka airport on Wednesday. The Health Minister expressed hope saying, “We expect the vaccine will arrive as per schedule on Wednesday or on Thursday. I will personally receive the vaccine at Dhaka airport”.
