India to Resume COVID Vaccine Export under ‘Vaccine Maitri’ program

New Delhi: The government of India on Monday announced that India will resume the export of surplus covid-19 vaccines from next quarter under the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ Program.

After the announcement of the export of surplus vaccine – the Union Health Minister said that “The initiative will be resumed to meet India’s commitment to the COVAX global pool, but vaccinating own citizens remains the topmost priority of the government.”

According to a media report, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the government will receive over 30 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines in October and over 100 crore doses in the next three months.

The government of India, States government, and the health authorities of the nation have administered more than 81 crore doses so far. The last 10 crore doses were administered in only 11 days.

On the export of the Covid-19 vaccine – the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that “This is in line with our motto of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. India’s vaccination drive has been a role model for the world and it is marching ahead with great speed.”

COVAX is co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and WHO to ensure “fair and equitable access for every country in the world”.

India donated or sold 66 million COVID vaccine doses to nearly 100 countries before the exports were prohibited in April as the pandemic’s second wave hit the nation.

The announcement comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington this week for the first in-person Quad summit where vaccines are likely to be discussed.

According to the Union Health Minister So far 64 percent of adults in the country have received at least one dose and 22 percent have received both doses and India aims to vaccinate all of its adult population by December.

Indian companies have set up the capacity to produce nearly 3 billion Coronavirus vaccine doses a year, says a media report.