Vasudaiva kutumbakam: Pharmacy of the world India delivers nearly 230 lakh doses to different countries

As part of its vaccine diplomacy, India has delivered a total of 229.7 lakh doses to the global community so far, the Ministry of External Affairs informed.
 

Of these, 64.7 lakh doses have been supplied as a grant while 165 lakh doses were supplied on a commercial basis, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said.
 

Countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Maldives, Mauritius Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Bahrain, Oman, Afghanistan, Barbados and Dominica were given the vaccine as gifts.

Bangladesh and Myanmar also got some doses on a commercial basis.
 

On a commercial basis, the vaccines were supplied to Brazil, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, Kuwait and UAE.
 

"We will continue to take forward the global vaccine supply initiative and cover more countries in a phased manner," Srivastava said.

In the coming weeks, vaccines will be supplied to more countries in Africa, Latin America, CARICOM and Pacific Island states, he added.
 

Initially, the vaccines were delivered to India's neighbouring countries, except Pakistan. 
 

"Decisions on these supplies will, of course, be calibrated as per domestic production and the requirements of the national vaccination programme," the spokesperson said.

India, while sending vaccines to other countries, also happens to be the only country to vaccinate 7 million in the shortest period.  

By June, India might come up with another vaccine.  The antibodies which are put in the bodies through vaccination may last up to eight months or so. This was revealed by All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director Randeep Guleria. He also added that scientists are studying the long-term prospects of these antibodies.