India has been at the forefront of the global response in common fight against the Covid-19 pandemic

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement to say that India's vaccine production and delivery capacity would be used for the benefit of all humanity in fighting against the Covid-19 pandemic

Responding to media queries on the supply of vaccines to neighbouring countries and other nations, MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said India has been at the forefront of the global response in the common fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

India sees international cooperation in this field, particularly with its neighbours as its duty, he said. “You would be aware that in our neighbourhood, we have already provided medicines and other essential supplies. We have held training sessions for experts from these countries on vaccine-related issues,” the MEA Spokesperson said.

On whether India has signed or will sign any agreement on vaccine with any country, Anurag Srivastava said, “There’s understandably interest from many countries to access vaccines from India and the latter has become a global hub for vaccine manufacturing and India has been at the forefront of global efforts in the common fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and India sees international cooperation as its duty.”

It should be noted that the MEA Spokesperson’s remarks came on a day Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said soon it would be a reality to vaccinate the entire population in the country against COVID-19 after prioritising risk groups.

On Sunday, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country, paving the way for a massive inoculation drive.