India is set to resume exports of Covid 19 vaccines to its neighbouring countries. According to the Dhaka based Daily Star, Serum Institute of India (SII) has been given the green signal to export 10 lakh doses of Covishield each to Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar.

Quoting an unnamed health ministry official, the news organisation said that while 10 lakh doses of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin would be sent to Iran, SII will export 10 lakh doses of Covishield each to Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh under the 'Vaccine Maitri' programme in October.

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Bangladesh pharma major Beximco Pharmaceuticals had signed a deal with SII for supply of 30 million doses over a period of six months, starting from January. However, India, which was hit by a brutal second wave, had to halt exports of Covid 19 vaccines.

Sources said that several countries are hoping that India would resume export of its Covid 19 vaccines. “The demand for vaccines is especially high even from African countries, where there has been an increase in the Covid numbers,” an insider said.

Meanwhile, India has managed to administer 92.4 crore doses of the vaccines. Over 18 per cent of the population now is fully vaccinated.

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India will now soon have to put in place a plan to start administering the vaccines for children. Until now only adults – those who are 18 years and above– are eligible for the inoculation exercise.

After an acute shortage of vaccines in May and early June, supply of vaccines has improved significantly in India.

“Now that availability of vaccines is no longer an issue, we are looking to start exports,,” an insider told India Narrative.