the central grant permission to export covid vaccine | Center approves export of Kovid vaccine; First consignment to Brazil

New Delhi; The Center has approved the export of Kovid vaccine to foreign countries. The first consignments from India will be sent to Brazil and Morocco on Friday, Reuters news agency quoted Indian Foreign Secretary Harshavardhan Shringla as saying.

Developed jointly by Oxford University and UK pharmaceutical manufacturer Astra Seneca and exported to the CoviShield vaccine manufactured at the Serum Institute of India in Pune. India had earlier said it would export the Kovid vaccine to developing poor countries. Although orders have been received for the Kovichield vaccine from many countries, the Center has decided to export the vaccine once it has started distribution. Vaccine distribution in India started on January 16.

Earlier this week, India shipped the Kovichield vaccine free of charge to neighboring countries such as Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal. But these countries will have to pay more for the Kovid vaccine. The next consignments will be exported to Saudi Arabia and then to South Africa, Shringla said.

Brazil had earlier asked India to make the Kovichield vaccine available to them. Brazil has signed a 20 million dosage agreement with the institute. Last week, Brazil sent another plane to India for this purpose.