India has gifted over 56 lakh (5.5 million) doses of Covid-19 vaccines to its neighbouring countries and in the extended neighbourhood

India has handed over 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine Covishield to Oman as part of its 'VaccineMaitri' initiative to help other countries fight the pandemic.

The consignment of Covishield vaccines manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SSI) is a gift from India and arrived in Oman late on Saturday night.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Twitter, "Made in India vaccines arrive in Muscat. Reflects a deep friendship, spanning millenia"



Indian Ambassador Munu Mahawar handed over the Made in India vaccines to Oman's Health Minister Ahmed Mohammed Al Saidi on Sunday.

The Indian Embassy in Muscat, Oman described this as "A gift from the Govt and People of India For Govt & People of Oman".



Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava had earlier shared photos of the consignment leaving for Oman.



India has gifted over 55 lakh (5.5 million) doses of the Covid-19 vaccines to its neighbouring countries and in the extended neighbourhood since January 20.

This includes one lakh doses each to Bahrain, Mauritius and Maldives, 10 lakh to Nepal, 20 lakh to Bangladesh, 15 lakh to Myanmar, 50,000 doses to Seychelles, 5 lakh to Sri Lanka.

India will also be sending five lakh doses to CARICOM (Caribbean Community) countries, two lakh doses to Nicaragua, and two lakh doses to Pacific Island states over the next few days, the Ministry of External Affairs had said on Thursday.

India has also committed to supply 10 million vaccine doses to Africa and 1 million doses to UN health workers under GAVI's COVAX facility, the ministry had said.