Union Health Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, announced that India will begin to export and donate COVID-19 vaccines next month. The announcement comes on Monday, a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to the United States. However, US President Joe Biden is all set to host Prime Minister Modi.
India to Resume Vaccine Exports Soon
Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Health Minister announced on Monday that India will restart exporting and donating the Covid vaccine from next month. The world’s largest manufacturer had halted donating and exporting vaccines to other countries in order to accelerate its own vaccination drive.
Moreover, the COVID-19 cases in the country were exploding at that time. Henceforth, the Indian government decided to focus on inoculating their own citizens first rather than just donating the vaccines. The announcement comes a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to the States, where President Joe Biden is hosting him.
COVID-19 Vaccinations in the Country
The Indian government wants to vaccinate 94.4 crore, adults, before December 2021. However, so far 61 percent of the total desired population in India is vaccinated against COVID-19. Although the road to full vaccination seems quite rough and rocky, we are assuming that the government won’t meet its target. The country witnessed one of its largest vaccination statistics on September 17, the PM’s birthday. Moreover, everyone who is above 18 is eligible for vaccination in the country. Besides that, the COVID-19 situation in the country is also under control now.
India to Donate and Share Covid Vaccines With Neighboring Countries
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on his visit to the United States where the leaders of the Quad countries are likely to have a discussion on the Covid vaccine. The Quad countries include Japan, Australia, the United States, and India.
However, India’s “Vaccine Maitri” program will focus on donating the COVID-19 vaccines to the WHO-led facility, COVAX. Besides that, Mandaviya also said that the government will also share vaccines with the neighboring countries. Moreover, he added that the country’s vaccine manufacture capacity has doubled since April this year. The vaccine manufacturers are set to quadruple to over 300 million doses next month.
