First Earn Goodwill Within Country: Delhi HC To Centre Over Export Of Vaccines To Other Nations

The Delhi High Court questioned the central government's move to export vaccines to "not so friendly countries" and observed that goodwill has to be earned "within" than "outside".

The Centre had defended its decision to export vaccines to foreign countries, telling the high court that it has allowed only limited export of COVID-19 vaccines while giving the highest priority to domestic needs.

Exporting vaccines to not-so-friendly countries

¡°Today¡¯s newspapers show you¡¯re also exporting to not-so-friendly countries. You have to earn goodwill within then earn it outside,¡± a bench of justices Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rekha Palli said.

Reuters

The observation was made during the hearing of a suo motu petition regarding the demand by lawyers for vaccination of all members of the judiciary, including judges, court staff, and advocates on priority.

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta had argued that the government had decided the vaccine prioritization plan on the basis of age, vulnerability and co-morbidity.

The high court, however, did not pass any order against the export of vaccines being manufactured in India.

Made-In-India vaccines to Pakistan

The development comes a day after reports said that Pakistan will get 45 million doses of Made-In-India Oxford-Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccines.

Reuters

Pakistan is relying mostly on free doses being provided by the Gavi to inoculate the citizens against the coronavirus as the Chinese-made vaccine CanSino would cost US $13 or around Pakistani Rs 2,000 per person.

The neighbouring country is set to receive the first batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India by mid-March and the rest of it is expected to arrive by June.