India on Tuesday confirmed that it would begin COVID vaccine export starting Wednesday with the first tranche being gifted to six neighbouring. These countries are Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles. The vaccines will reach Bhutan at around 11 am local time with 150,000 doses and the Maldives at around 2 pm with 100,000 doses.
The ministry of external affairs in its release said, “Keeping with India’s stated commitment to use India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity to help all of the humanity fight the Covid pandemic, supplies under grant assistance… from 20 January 2021.”
When it comes to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius, India is still awaiting their confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances.
The MEA said, “India will continue to supply countries all over the world with vaccines” and “this will be calibrated against domestic requirements and international demand and obligations, including under GAVI’s Covax…