India's vaccine diplomacy just became a little more heated. A plane to Brazil may depart shortly with two million doses of the Covishield COVID-19 vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India, but the ministry of external affairs claims it is too early to give "a specific response on the supplies to other countries’’.
“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,’’ said the spokesperson of the external affairs ministry Anurag Srivastava at the virtual briefing. “This may take some time," he added.
While India has promised to use its vaccine production and delivery capacity for “all of humanity’’, the MEA seems to be reluctant to divulge details. Reeling under the virus, Brazil with more than 8 million cases, has lost 200,000 people. Comparatively, India, with over 10 million cases, has a lower death toll.
Brazilian Deputy Health Minister Elcio Franco had earlier announced that the country was sending a plane to import 2 million doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine made by India’s Serum Institute, with an expected return date as early as Saturday.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said India was "ready to save humanity with two ‘Made in India’ coronavirus vaccines." Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro had appealed to PM Modi directly to expedite vaccine shipments.
Brazil's interest in the Covishield vaccine made in India—which is yet to receive emergency use authorisation in Brazil—comes as clinical trials of a Chinese vaccine in Brazil yielded disappointing results, with the Sinovac vaccine proving just 50.4% effective against preventing symptomatic infections. The new data came after preliminary reports that it was 78% effective against “mild-to-severe” cases, adding to scepticism about the vaccine in the country. While President Jair Bolsonaro has said he was right to criticise the Chinese vaccine, Brazil has already imported six million doses of Sinovac's vaccine.
Earlier on Thursday, the Indonesian ambassador to India tweeted tagging Serum Institute and Bharat Bio-Tech: “India will source its Covid 19 vaccines from a number of sources.” A virtual meeting with the Bharat Biotech and Indonesian regulators, companies and doctors had been organised, according to the tweet.
Indonesia launched its vaccine programme on Wednesday with President Joko Widodo getting the first shot of the Chinese-made "Sinovac" coronavirus vaccine. This is the first time that this particular Chinese vaccine is being used for mass-scale use beyond China. Earlier in the week, the Indonesian Ulema Council declared it halal. With the Indian vaccine also now part of this programme, India will need to gear up soon. Indonesia will need 427 million shots to vaccine its target of 180 million people, which is two-thirds of its population.
The clamour for the vaccine made in India seems to be mounting. Nepal too has chosen to back the desi shot—a win for India—with foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali having made the request in writing. In India, Gyawali will be hoping to work out the mechanisms before he goes back. South Africa too has claimed that it has tied up with the Pune-based Serum Institute for its batch of emergency use vaccine.
