India offers to supply Covid vaccine to Omicron-hit nations

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 29

India has offered support to countries in Africa affected by the Omicron variant. The help will include supplies of Made-in-India vaccines, said a MEA news release.

The supplies of vaccine can be undertaken through COVAX or bilaterally.

In this regard, the Government has cleared all orders placed so far by COVAX for supplies of Covishield vaccines including to African countries like Malawi, Ethiopia, Zambia, Mozambique, Guinea and Lesotho.

“Any new requirement projected either bilaterally or through COVAX will be considered expeditiously. India is also ready to supply essential life-saving drugs, test kits, gloves, PPE kits and medical equipment such as ventilators.”

Indian institutions would favourably consider cooperation in genomic surveillance and virus characterisation related research work with their African counterparts, offered the MEA.

India has, so far, supplied more than 25 million doses of Made-in-India vaccines to 41 countries in Africa, including nearly one million doses as grant to 16 countries and more than 16 million doses under the COVAX facility to 33 countries.