India to supply vaccines to Nepal, others from today

New Delhi: The government on Tuesday said India will begin supplying Covid-19 vaccines under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles from January 20.

“The Government of India has received several requests for the supply of Indian manufactured vaccines from neighbouring and key partner countries. In response to these requests, and in keeping with India’s stated commitment to use India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity to help all of humanity fight the Covid pandemic, supplies will begin from January 20,” the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

Supply to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius will be taken up later as the government is awaiting confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances, it said.


According to sources, a consignment of 100,000 doses of Covishield--the Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII)--will reach Male on January 20. The same day, 150,000 doses of Covishield will reach Thimphu. With this, Maldives and Bhutan will become the first recipients of the government’s gift of Covishield.