India's vaccine outreach GLOBAL RECOGNITION CONCERNS OVER VACCINE NATIONALISM

Amid shortages of Covid-19 supply across nations, India has gifted millions of doses of the locally produced Oxford-astrazeneca vaccine to several small or lower-income countries

INDIA POLICY

As part of the government’s stand of making doses available across the world, India’s neighbours and allies will get first priority after setting aside the vaccine needed for people in the country, officials have said. PM Modi has repeatedly said that India will use its vast vaccine infra to help other nations. “During the moment of crisis, India is able to serve the world today,” the PM said on Sunday.

Pune-based Serum Institute of India -- one of the world’s largest manufacturers, which is producing the Oxford-astrazeneca jab in the country -- has previously said 50% of all doses it produces will be split between India and Covax facility, a World Health Organization-led initiative to distribute shots to low and middle-income countries (LMICS).

Despite a WHO warning against “vaccine nationalism”, a European dispute over the supply of shots is threatening to unleash a wider political and economic conflict. After accusing UK vaccine maker Astrazeneca of favouring deliveries to its home country, the European Union (EU) announced a drastic plan to control exports of Covid shot, widely seen as a threat to prevent doses from being sent to Britain. The bloc was forced to reverse part of the announcement within hours, but the retaliatory move may encourage more governments to use economic might—or other means—to protect their interests.

China has also gifted doses of its Sinopharm vaccine to neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, but data of its efficacy across different populations is not consistent.