India is set to expand its soft power appeal globally as a reliable development partner by sending Covid-19 vaccines to many countries.
Nepal received the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines provided by the Government of India on Thursday. India has announced to provide 1 miliion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Nepal under its “VaccineMaitri” programme.
Covishield is administered in two doses of 0.5ml each, with the second dose given four to six weeks after the first.
After sending millions of doses of vaccines to Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Bangladesh as a gift from India on Thursday, India has also sent 1.5 million doses of vaccines to Myanmar besides vaccines to Mauritius and Seychelles on Friday and drawing up the plan for the Gulf, North African, SE Asian countries.
Covishield vaccines have already reached Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal as India’s gift.
India is awaiting confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius. Other prospective recipients include Brazil and Morocco, Oman and Bahrain are also interested in acquiring vaccines.
Delhi’s gesture has already been acknowledged by the leadership of recipient countries
Meanwhile, India is also planning to send its vaccine doses to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Also, awaiting confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances from Brazil, the India’s biggest partner in Latin America, and Morocco and South Africa.
Talking about the government’s decision, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “India is deeply honoured to be a long-trusted partner in meeting the healthcare needs of the global community. Supplies of Covid vaccines to several countries will commence tomorrow, and more will follow in the days ahead.”
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in his tweet, said: “India fulfils the commitment to give vaccines to humanity. Supplies to our neighbours will start on 20th January. The Pharmacy of the World will deliver to overcome the Covid.
Other countries are also in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment that the country’s vaccine production capacities would be used for all of humanity.
According to sources, around 90 plus countries have reached out to India for the COVID-19 vaccines. Several African and Latin American and Carribean nations, South Africa, Saudi Arabia among others are waiting for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine being made here in India by Serum Institute of India (SII).
Meanwhile, even after having a pact with Russia on purchasing around 5 million Sputnik V vaccine doses Bolivia is also interested in India’s vaccine and according to the sources, the talks are going on.
