India will be supplying 45 million Made-in-India COVID-19 vaccine doses to Pakistan under the GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) to vaccinate 45 million Pakistani citizens. According to reports, the Indian neighbour will be receiving the first batch of the COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca made (Covishield) with the help of the world’s largest manufacturer Serum Institute of India (SII) by mid-march. The second and final batch of the vaccine is expected to arrive by June.

GAVI or Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation is a government-private alliance that aims to increase immunization efforts in poor or developing countries. GAVI is currently responsible for immunization of almost half of the world’s children population against deadly infections and diseases. GAVI agreed to aid Pakistan in COVID-19 vaccination by signing an agreement in September 2020.

GAVI, the vaccine alliance, helps vaccinate almost half the world’s children against deadly and debilitating infectious diseases. It has been providing assistance to Pakistan all through the pandemic as well. It had signed an agreement with Pakistan to provide the COVID19 vaccines in September 2020.

Over 481 lakh COVID-19 vaccines sent to various countries

On March 10, during the Lok Sabha proceedings, it was revealed that India has provided 481 lakh COVID-19 doses to various countries across the world. According to the details given in the Lok Sabha proceedings, a total of 481.06 lakh vaccines have been sent to various countries. As to how the country has been sending the vaccine doses, it was revealed that 73.5 lakh doses were supplied as grants, 288.4 lakh vaccines were shipped on a commercial basis and 119.16 lakh doses were sent under the GAVI scheme.

On February 18 Union Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar announced that India would be delivering 2,00,000 doses to UN Peacemakers. “Keeping in mind the UN Peacekeepers who operate in such difficult circumstances, we would like to announce today a gift of 200,000 doses for them,” Mr. S Jaishankar had said during the United Nations Security Council Debate.

“We are working actively with GAVI, WHO and ACT Accelerator. Our contribution has also supported the SAARC,” he added.

Canadian billboard thanks PM Modi

Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts in helping countries with Made in India vaccines were appreciated in Canada. In the Greater Toronto Area, a few billboards appeared out of nowhere which thanked PM Modi for providing COVID-19 vaccines to Canada. “Thank you India & PM Narendra Modi for providing Covid vaccine to Canada. Long live Canada-India friendship,” the billboard read.

On March 11, the Indian Prime Minister also spoke briefly about India’s efforts in providing vaccines to the world. During the virtual launch of Swami Chidbhavananda’s version of Bhagavad Gita, PM Modi said how anyone who takes Gita as an inspiration remains compassionate in their nature and democratic in their disposition.

“We want to heal and help humanity”: PM Modi

In the virtual launch, Mr. Modi said how in the past, whenever the world needed medicines, India did its part and provided them with it. He continued and said how India is happy that Indian manufactured vaccines are being sent around the world.

“We want to heal as well as help humanity. This is exactly what Gita teaches us. At the core of Aatmnirbhar Bharat is to create wealth and values, not only for ourselves but for the larger humanity. We believe that an Aatmnirbhar Bharat is good for the world,” said Mr. Modi

The vaccination assistance comes when India is in its second phase of vaccination. The country has approved 2 COVID-19 vaccines, Covishield, which is developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford and manufactured by Serum Institute, and the Bharat Biotech’s Covaxine which is manufactured with the help of the Indian Medical Council of Research and the National Institute of Virology.

 

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