Ministry of External Affairs Government of India

LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4603
TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

VACCINE DIPLOMACY


4603. SHRI ABDUL KHALEQUE:

Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state:

(a) the names of the countries with whom the Government proposes to have vaccine diplomacy along with the details thereof;

(b) whether any formal agreement has been reached with these countries and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the reasons for going ahead with vaccine diplomacy when the entire population of the country is yet to be vaccinated?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) to (c) India started external supplies of Made-in-India COVID19 vaccines on 20 January 2021. Supplies are being undertaken in the form of grant, commercial sales by the manufacturers and through GAVI’s COVAX facility.

India, as most other countries, is implementing its COVID-19 vaccination programme in a phased manner. Taking into account domestic production and requirements of the phased roll out of national vaccination programme, a decision was taken to supply to foreign countries on a bilateral-grant or commercial basis. The supply to GAVI’s COVAX facility is an obligation since India is a member of this multilateral body and also a recipient of vaccines from this body.

Country-wise details for supply of vaccines till 21 March 2021 are enclosed.

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