Fulfilling Domestic Supplies, India Extends The Stop Export Of COVID-19 Vaccines

AstraZeneca Vaccine. (Wikimedia Commons / Agencia Brasilia)

JAKARTA - India may continue to stop exporting the COVID-19 vaccine until next October, in connection with meeting domestic vaccine needs which was hit by the second wave of COVID-19. This will impact the global vaccine program through COVAX.

As the largest COVID-19 vaccine producer in the world, India is able to donate or sell 66 million doses of vaccine, targeting countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and a number of African countries.

The extension of the export cessation prompted the World Health Organization (WHO), calling on vaccine makers outside India to advance its vaccine supplies to the program, at a meeting Monday May 17.

One of the authorized sources on condition of anonymity explained that the Indian Government's decision to extend this suspension was in line with the spike in COVID-19 cases and the death toll which also set a record high. Thus, India is focused on the domestic vaccination campaign.

"We do not have to officially convey to all countries because we are not obliged to do so. It was discussed internally and some countries were asked not to expect export commitments, given India's current situation," the source said.

Meanwhile, two other sources said India's speed in controlling the second wave of COVID-19 would determine the continuation of vaccine exports from India. All vaccine exports are coordinated and supervised by the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Separately, a spokesman for the Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine maker, said his party was focused on the supply of vaccines for India's country.

Regarding the COVAX program, the COVAX GAVI party revealed that at least 140 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine that they were due to receive this May, will certainly remain in India. Total COVAX has a 1.1 billion dose agreement for AstraZeneca or Novavax vaccine with the Serum Institute of India.

"As India faces a truly dire pandemic wave, India's vaccine production, including the 140 million doses of vaccine originally intended for COVAX, has committed to protecting its own citizens," a GAVI spokesman said by email.

"We offer full support to the Government of India in their efforts to control the virus, and we are ready to help in any way we can," he said.