Mumbai: India on Wednesday dispatched the first batch of the Covishield vaccine consisting of 1.5 lakh doses as a gift to Thimphu, Bhutan from Chhatrapati Shivcaji Maharaj Airport, Mumbai.
The vaccines developed by the Serum Institute of India will reach Thimphu today. India so far has provided essential medicines and medical supplies worth Rs2.8 crores to Bhutan. In line with India-Bhutan relations, India has ensured a continuous supply of essential items to Bhutan in spite the Covid 19 restrictions.
The government of India has received several requests for the supply of Indian manufactured vaccines from neighboring and key partner countries. In response to these requests, and in keeping with India’s stated commitment to use India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity to help all of humanity fight the Covid pandemic, supplies under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles will begin from 20 January 2021. In respect of Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius, we are awaiting their confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances, said the Ministry of external Affairs in a statement on Tuesday.
India has approved the use of two Covid 19 vaccines namely Covishield by the Serum Institute of India and Covaxin by the Bharat BioTech for restricted emergency use.
