India has decided to temporarily halt all major exports of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine , locally produced by the Serum Institute of...
India has decided to temporarily halt all major exports of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, locally produced by the Serum Institute of India, to meet its domestic demand as the country grapples with a renewed surge of infections, Reuters reported on Thursday. India, the world’s biggest vaccine maker, has exported more than six crore doses but given only about 5.31 crore to its own people.
“Everything else has taken a backseat, for the time being at least,” a government official told the news agency. “No exports, nothing till the time the India situation stabilises. The government won’t take such a big chance at the moment when so many need to be vaccinated in India.”
The move came two days after the Centre announced it will expand its vaccination campaign from April 1 to include everyone above 45, and denied there was any shortage of vaccines in the country. The decision also comes at a time when the government’s highly publicised vaccine diplomacy is being questioned by the Opposition, with several states expressing fears over the dwindling supplies.
Unidentified officials told the Hindustan Times that there will not be a complete ban on exports, though supplies to other countries will be made only after meeting domestic needs. “We have helped countries around the world with commercial supplies and...
