Brazil Sends Flights To India For 2 Mn Doses Of Covishield Even As Indians Wait For Rollout
Even as India is yet to officially roll out its COVID-19 vaccination programme, the country is all set to export the domestically manufactured vaccines.
Brazil, which has the second-highest death toll from COVID-19 in the world after the US will be the first country to export the vaccine from India.
2 million doses for Brazil
The country has said that it has begun preparations to bring two million doses of coronavirus vaccine from India.
In a statement, Brazil's health ministry said: "The Brazilian government informs that preparations to bring the two million doses of the vaccine against COVID-19 from India are already underway."
"The Azul airlines flight will be anticipated and will leave Viracopos Airport, in Campinas (SP), at 1.00 pm this Thursday (14t) for Recife (PE), from where it will depart directly to the Indian city of Mumbai. The vaccines are scheduled to arrive in Brazil next Saturday (16) at Galeao Airport (RJ)," it said.
The Ministry further said that the Airbus A330 Neo will be equipped with specific containers to ensure temperature control of the doses in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Embassy in New Delhi, has made arrangements with the Indian authorities and the Serum Institute of India, following up on a letter from President Jair Bolsonaro to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, dated January 8, and is providing assistance regarding international travel issues and procedures. The Ministry of Defense will contribute to the security of land transportation to the states," the Ministry said.
It further said that the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine will be distributed to the Brazilian states within five days after the approval of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). "Immunization all over the country will be carried out simultaneously and free of charge," it added.
The flights carrying the vaccines are set to leave from Mumbai on Friday evening.?
Domestic demand
Many have however questioned the timing of the export of the vaccine, at a time when domestic manufacturing is not able to produce enough vaccines to inoculate Indians.
Last month SII, which has partnered with Oxford AztroZenica to manufacture its COVID-19 vaccine in India under the name Covishield had said that it aims to produce 10 crore doses of the vaccine every month in 2021.
Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, the manufacturer of Covaxin had earlier this month said they are setting up four vaccine manufacturing facilities with a combined capacity of 700 million doses per annum.
On Thursday, the MEA had it is too early to give a specific response on the COVID-19 vaccine supplies to other countries.
Assessing capacity
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said at the regular media briefing that India is still assessing production schedules and availability.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already stated that India's vaccine production and delivery capacity would be used for the benefit of all humanity in fighting this crisis.
"In so far as requests from countries for vaccines from India, you would recall that Prime Minister has already stated that India's vaccine production and delivery capacity would be used for the benefit of all humanity in fighting this crisis," he said.
"As you know, the vaccination process is just starting in India. It is too early to give a specific response on the supplies to other countries as we are still assessing production schedules and availability to take decisions in this regard. This may take some time," he added.
