India has gifted over 55 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccine to neighbouring countries so far, External Affairs Ministry said on Thursday.
Addressing a weekly briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava on Thursday said India plans to gift vaccines doses to Oman, CARICOM countries, Nicaragua, Pacific Island states.
Srivastava said New Delhi plans to supply 1 crore or 10 million vaccine doses to Africa and 10 lakh to United Nations health workers under GAVI’s (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) COVAX facility.
“There is interest in many countries to access vaccine from India. In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement that India sees international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic. We have played the role of the first responder in the neighbourhood,” Srivastava said.
Over the next few days, we’ve planned to gift further quantities of 1 lakh doses to Oman, 5 lakh doses to CARICOM countries, 2 lakhs to Nicaragua & 2 lakh doses to Pacific Island states: Anurag Srivastava, MEA official spokesperson #COVID19 https://t.co/XXgRIlxdlA
— ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2021
“From 20th January 2021 onward, we have gifted over 55 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccines to our neighbouring countries and in the extended neighbourhood–1.5 lakh to Bhutan, 1 lakh to Maldives, Mauritius and Bahrain, 10 lakhs to Nepal, 20 lakhs to Bangladesh, 15 lakhs to Myanmar, 50,000 to Seychelles, 5 lakh to Sri Lanka. In the coming days, We plan to gift further quantity to Oman that is of 1 lakh doses, 5 lakh doses to CARICOM countries. 2 lakh to Nicaragua, 2 lakh doses to the Pacific island state,” he added.
These supplies are based on the request of these countries, he said.
India, Srivastava said, plans to commercially export coronavirus vaccine to Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Canada, Mongolia and other countries.
“On a commercial level, the export has taken place for Brazil Morocco and Bangladesh. Further supplies to countries on commercial bases are likely to take place to Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Canada Mongolia and other countries. We plan to supply 1 crore or 10 million vaccine doses to Africa and 10 lakh to United Nations health workers under GAVI,” he said