Context:
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Was it correct decision to export vaccines when requirement of India is not met completely?
Decisions:
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India has exported COVID vaccines to over 90 countries.
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As per Ministry of External Affairs India will continue to export vaccines based on the production and needs of the national vaccination programme.
Potential of India’s vaccine exports:
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According to Ministry of External Affairs statistics, upto April 13, India alone supplied over 65 million vaccines to 90 countries globally.
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More than 10 million doses are sent as grants.
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Almost 36 million on a commercial basis.
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About 19 million under the COVAX programme.
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India also exports vaccines to GAVI. India is a member of Gavi’s COVAX facility. Further, India also receives other vaccines from GAVI. So, exporting vaccine to GAVI is an obligation to India.
Why India need to export vaccine?
India explained the need to export vaccine during the recent Raisina Dialogue.
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PM : Humanity as a whole must be at the centre of our thinking and action. India must think of the entire humanity, not merely of people with Indian boundary.
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Minister of External Affairs : Equitable access to vaccines is critically important. No one will be safe till everyone is safe.
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Indian PM also mentioned the concept of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. (the world is one family). India desires to be a good global citizen. A similar concept is also enshrined in the Objective Resolution. (moved by Jawaharlal Nehru in the Constituent Assembly by 1946.)
So being a responsible global power, India needs to think beyond itself. So, exporting vaccine is essential as much as vaccinating Indians.