India to resume export of surplus Covid vaccines from October

India will resume the export and donations of surplus vaccines from October. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced on Monday. “India will be resuming export of vaccines under Vaccine Maitri in order to fulfil the commitment of India towards COVAX, in line with our motto Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. The surplus supply of vaccines will be used to fulfil our commitment towards the world for the collective fight against Covid-19,” said Mansukh Mandaviya. The renewed export drive, known as 'Vaccine Maitri' will prioritise neighbouring countries first, Mandaviya said, adding that that since April, the country's monthly vaccine output has since more than doubled and is set to quadruple to over 300 million doses next month.India donated or sold 6.6 crore doses to nearly 100 countries before the export halt.

Till April-end this year,India exported 66.4 million Covaxin and Covishield vaccine doses that included doses as commercial supplies, grants and supplies to the COVAX facility meant for use in low and middle income countries across the globe.India halted vaccine export after new cases started surging during the second wave in the country. With the hard second wave that India saw April onwards, India began aggressively vaccinating its population and even expanded coverage to all adults from May 1. The vaccine supplies have been shipped for as many as 93 countries so far, for health care workers with the United Nations, and also their peacekeepers, as per the ministry of external affairs data.