India provides more than 5.86 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines to approximately 71 countries

NEW DELHI: India, also called ‘the pharmacy of the world’ nowadays, has exported over 5.86 crore doses of domestically made COVID-19 vaccines to approximately 71 countries so far. Out of the total supply, over 81 lakh doses have been provided free of cost as grant aid to 37 countries, whereas 1.65 crore doses have been sent under the COVAX facility route to around 31 countries.

Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Oman, and Afghanistan among others, were the first countries to receive the Made in India vaccines via the grant aid route under the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ initiative.

According to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), over 3.39 crore vaccine doses have also been sent to 24 different countries commercially. MEA added that several countries have bee supplied the Made in India vaccines through multiple modes which include both as grant aid and through COVAX facility. The ministry also said that the grant assistance to several countries is being done in line with India’s stated commitment to using India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity to help humanity combat the COVID-19 pandemic.