Amid Vaccine Shortage, India Rejects SII’s Request To Export 50 Lakh Covishield Vaccine Doses To UK

Mumbai: Due to the Shortage of Vaccines in the country, the Modi government has refused to allow the Serum Institute of India (SII) to export around 50 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine to the United Kingdom.

However, the Central government has insisted that the local vaccine production be supplied to protect Indians first.

Though the doses of Covishield vaccine now to be provided to 18-44 aged peoples.

“These 50 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine are now available for inoculating people between 18-44 years ago. States have been asked to procure it. Private hospitals can also get them,” an official of TOI said.

Earlier, the Pune-based Serum Institute had on March 23 sought permission from the ministry to supply 50 lakh doses of Covishield to the UK, citing an agreement with AstraZeneca in this regard.

“The stock of 50 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine is now available for inoculation of 18-44 age group people in 21 states and UTs,” an official source said.

The ministry has asked the states to contact the company and initiate procurement activity promptly.

While some states have been allocated 3,50,000 doses each, others got 1,00,000 doses each and two others have been assigned 50,000 doses each based on the COVID-19 caseload, official sources said.

Meanwhile, the country has reported 3,29,942 cases in the last 24 hours taking the total caseload of Covid-19 cases to 2,29,92,517.

Well, India has recorded its lowest count of daily Covid-19 cases in fourteen days but still well beyond the 3-lakh mark, as per the data updated by the Union health ministry.

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