Twenty-five countries in queue for Made in India COVID-19 vaccine
What's the story
India has so far supplied the COVID-19 vaccine to 15 countries and another 25 nations are in the queue at different levels for the jab, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday.
There are three categories of countries that are keen to get the vaccine from India- poor, price-sensitive nations and other countries which directly deal with pharmaceutical companies that make the antidote.
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'It has put India on the world map'
"I would say there would be another about 25 countries which are at different stages in the pipeline. But what it has done is today it has put India on the map of the world," Jaishankar told reporters in a press conference in Amaravati.
Supply cost
Vaccine being supplied to some poor countries on grant basis
The minister said some poor countries are being supplied the vaccine on a grant basis while some nations wanted it on par with the price that the Indian Government pays to the vaccine makers.
"Further, some countries have direct contracts with the Indian vaccine producing companies and have negotiated commercially," he said.
Information
COVAXIN and Covishield approved in India under Emergency Use Authorization
The Centre has already given the nod to two COVID-19 vaccines, Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN and Covishield of Oxford, being manufactured by Serum Institute of India in Pune, which are being administered to healthcare workers since January 16 under Emergency Use Authorization.
Details
Dr. Reddy's will approach regulator for EUA for Sputnik V
Meanwhile, drugmaker Dr. Reddy's recently said it will approach the Drug Regulator for EUA for Russian vaccine Sputnik V in March.
Jaishankar further said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's idea was to establish the country as the "Pharmacy of the World," taking advantage of the domestic capabilities and the way India emerged as an IT leader during the Y2K issue.
Vaccination drive
India fastest country to reach five million COVID-19 vaccination mark
Meanwhile, India became the fastest country in the world to reach the five million COVID-19 vaccination mark, reaching the milestone in just 21 days, the Union Health Ministry said as nearly 53 lakh beneficiaries were administered shots under the countrywide inoculation exercise till Friday evening.
The USA, the UK, and Israel completed five million vaccinations in 24, 43, and 45 simultaneous days respectively.