World’s Largest Vaccination Drive conducted by India Made 22 Countries to Ask for Supply of Vaccines

India, since the beginning of its massive inoculation drive, which is also the biggest inoculation drive in the world, received requests for the supply of the vaccines from a total of 22 countries across the continents. The nation, however, has already supplied vaccines to 15 countries so far. The information was revealed by the Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday. 

The minister, while answering the question at a question-answer session in Lok Sabha, revealed that the vaccines have been supplied as both grant assistance as well as contract doses. “We have received requests for vaccine supply from 22 nations so far. Out of these, supply has already been made to 15 nations as grant assistance as well as contract doses. As of February 2, a total of 56 lakh doses has been given as grant assistance and 205 lakh as contracts doses”, state the minister.

Notably, the Indian government has given approval to two vaccines for the authorization of emergency use, namely Covaxin and Covishield.

According to the spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs, “We will continue to supply vaccines to partner countries over the coming weeks and months in a phased manner. Decisions on these supplies will, of course, be calibrated against the requirements of the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine at home”.