The prospect of a large-scale invasion of Rafah, where around 1.2 million civilians are sheltering, has sparked intensifying global alarm
world2 hours ago
India could resume deliveries of Covid-19 shots to global vaccine-sharing platform Covax in a few weeks for the first time since April, two health industry sources said, ending a suspension of supplies that has hurt poor countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO), which co-leads Covax, has been urging India to restart supplies for the programme, especially after it sent about 4 million doses to its neighbours and partners in October.
Based on an informal approval from India, Covax officials have started planning allocations of the Covishield shot for various countries, said one of the sources, both of whom declining to be identified pending a final agreement.
Covishield is a licensed version of the AstraZeneca shot made by the Serum Institute of India (SII), the world’s biggest vaccine maker.
SII has nearly quadrupled its output of Covishield to up to 240 million doses a month since April, when India stopped all exports in order to inoculate its own people during a surge of cases.
“There will need to be purchase orders confirmed to SII, labelling and packing, export authorisation granted for each of these shipments,” said the source. “So the first deliveries, assuming the Indian government grants export authorisation, won’t happen until a few weeks from now.”
SII, the health ministry and the WHO did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
ALSO READ:
The ministry said in a statement earlier in the day that Indian states had more than 159 million unutilised doses of various vaccines, as inoculations have slowed after 79% of the country’s 944 million adults got one dose and 37% got two doses.
SII CEO Adar Poonawalla told Reuters last month that the company could send 20 million to 30 million doses a month to Covax in November and December, which would increase to “large volumes” from January once India’s own needs were met.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday that Covax had the money and the contracts to buy vaccines for low-income countries but “manufacturers have not played their part”.
Covax in September cut its 2021 delivery target by nearly 30% to 1.425 billion doses.
The prospect of a large-scale invasion of Rafah, where around 1.2 million civilians are sheltering, has sparked intensifying global alarm
world2 hours ago
The festival saw the participation of 120 students in school theatre, Arabic calligraphy, and visual arts
uae2 hours ago
The PTI founder emphasised a deal is made by someone who wants to leave the country or avoid incarceration
asia2 hours ago
The ministry said later that Russian aircraft and air defence systems had downed a total of 15 ATACMS in the past week
world2 hours ago
Judge ordered the police to ensure the appearance of nine suspects in the Jinnah House attack case, and five others in the Askari Tower case on May 15
asia3 hours ago
Honouring Sharjah as the Guest of Honour at this renowned cultural event also recognises its central role as one of the key World Book Capitals
uae3 hours ago
This year's contest has so far been dominated by calls for Israel to be excluded over its war in Gaza, which the organisers rejected
europe3 hours ago
Dubai's Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamdan, mourned his passing by posting a heartfelt tribute on X
gulf4 hours ago