Omicron virus: India expresses solidarity with Africa, assures Made in India COVID vaccines, medical equipment

KEY STORY

• The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday assured all help to African countries to deal with the new COVID variant Omicron. The government announced that it would not only continue to supply the COVID vaccines under the COVAX agreement, but also send supplies of ‘Make in India’ vaccine doses.

• Assuring full support to the African nations in view of the Omicron threat, the Indian government also announced to send medicines, test kits, gloves, PPE kits and other medical equipment to tackle the COVID pandemic.

• The MEA informed that Covishiled vaccine doses have already been sent to Malawi, Ethiopia, Zambia, Mozambique, Guinea and Lesotho through COVAX. The Centre further informed that it has also cleared the export of indigenous Covaxin to Bostwana.

• The external affairs minister informed that India has so far supplied more than 25 million doses of Made-in-India vaccines to 41 countries in Africa, including nearly 1 million doses as grant to 16 countries and more than 16 million doses under the COVAX facility to 33 countries.

• Here’s what MEA said in its statement:

“We have noted the emergence of a new variant of Covid-19, Omicron. We express our solidarity with the countries, particularly in Africa, who have so far been affected by the Omicron variant.

The Government of India stands ready to support the countries affected in Africa in dealing with the Omicron variant, including by supplies of Made-in-India vaccines. Supplies can be undertaken through COVAX or bilaterally. In this regard, the Government has cleared all orders placed so far by COVAX for supplies of COVISHIELD vaccines including to African countries like Malawi, Ethiopia, Zambia, Mozambique, Guinea and Lesotho. We have also cleared supplies of COVAXIN to Botswana. Any new requirement projected either bilaterally or through COVAX will be considered expeditiously.

India also stands ready to supply essential life-saving drugs, test kits, gloves, PPE kits and medical equipment such as ventilators, as may be required. Indian institutions would favourably consider cooperation in genomic surveillance and virus characterization related research work with their African counterparts.”