India exports 1 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses to Oman and 5 lakh doses to Afghanistan

NEW DELHI: India’s vaccine diplomacy is further diversifying. In the wake of gifting vaccines to its immediate neighbours, India this weekend has sent one lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Oman, perhaps India’s closest partner in the Gulf.

Later this week, India is scheduled to send more than five lakh doses to Afghanistan. India will also send 2 lakh doses to Nicaragua, one lakh to Barbados, 70,000 to Dominica and 1.5 lakh to Mongolia; however, dates for these are yet to be finalised. Meanwhile, Egypt, Algeria, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have all bought vaccines and are on the commercial export list.

Besides from gifts, Mongolia (10 Lakh), Nicaragua (3 lakh), Saudi Arabia (30 lakh), Myanmar and Bangladesh are among those who have contracted to purchase vaccines from India. These purchases are made commercially but need export clearance from the Indian government.

The United Nations COVAX initiative will see India giving about 100 lakh doses of vaccines. In addition, the UN will be buying about four doses for its own workers all over the globe.