Covax is a scheme led by the World Health Organization (WHO). The scheme aims to ensure vaccines are shared fairly among rich and poor nations. Richer countries have been able to buy far more Covid jabs than poorer ones. This scheme ensures 92 poorer countries will receive access to vaccines. 

Few days back it was reported that India has exported more numbers of COVID-19 vaccine doses than it has inoculated its own people. As per Foreign Ministry Sources, the Central Government has reportedly put on temporary hold all major exports of Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield, which is being produced in the country by Pune-based Serum Institute of India [SII]. The decision to temporarily halt the export of the vaccine as India faces a surge in coronavirus cases and on 24th March it recorded more than 47,000 new cases and 275 deaths. They said rising cases meant the doses were needed for India's own rollout. Also, India is opening up vaccinations for those over the age of 45 from 1st April, and officials expect demand for vaccinations to increase. Domestic demand will have to take precedence. Officials said that this is temporary and is expected to affect supplies until the end of April and the situation will become better in May. India has exported more than 60 million vaccine doses to 76 countries so far, with the majority of these being Covishield. 

However, there has been no official comment on the temporary hold from the government or the SII on the decision.

Tags

• Covax
• Oxford
• AstraZeneca
• SII
• Covishield
• Gover

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