INDIA gifted 20,000 doses of the Made in India COVID-19 vaccine – COVISHIELD (Oxford-AstraZeneca) — to the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, on Tuesday, to meet the immediate requirements of vaccinating healthcare workers, frontline workers and those with co-morbidities.

The COVISHIELD vaccine is manufactured in India by the Serum Institute of India, Pune, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, in collaboration with Oxford-AstraZeneca.

By delivering COVID vaccine within days of its rollout, India has once again demonstrated its willingness and ability to act as a first responder to crises in the world, including in St. Kitts and Nevis and other Organisations of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) countries.

The Government of India has announced a total donation of 570,000 doses to the CARICOM region out of which 125,000 doses of COVISHIELD vaccine to OECS countries, Antigua & Barbuda (40,000), St. Kitts & Nevis (20,000), Saint Lucia (25,000), St. Vincent & the Grenadines (40,000) arrived in Antigua and Barbuda Tuesday. These doses of vaccine were received from India by a special charter flight and the RSS is transporting the respective consignments from Antigua & Barbuda to the other countries in the next 24 hours.

Guyana will be receiving 80,000 Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from the Government of India next week, as part of the commitment made by India.
Trials of COVID-19 vaccines are progressing well in India. Currently, there are quite a few vaccines in different phases of trials.

In his speech on the occasion, High Commissioner Dr. K.J. Srinivasa highlighted that the gifting of vaccines to St. Kitts and Nevis honoured Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to use India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity for helping all of humanity in fighting the crisis. He emphasized the fact that St. Kitts and Nevis received the vaccine in the first few days of India’s assistance to friendly countries, highlighted the special place St. Kitts and Nevis occupies in India’s Foreign Policy.

It also bolstered India’s credentials as the immediate responder for St. Kitts and Nevis in times of emergency situations. He reiterated that the arrival of Covid-19 vaccines in St. Kitts and Nevis marked another milestone in bilateral relations.

High Commissioner was happy to note that with India’s support, St. Kitts and Nevis would be able to intensify the inoculation drive at such an early stage in the global fight against the pandemic. He hoped that the vaccine would help St. Kitts and Nevis in saving lives, ameliorating suffering of brothers and sisters of St. Kitts and Nevis and bringing the country’s economy back to normal. He quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said that India has always been guided by its ancient philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – one goal. Even during the pandemic, India ramped up its pharmaceutical production – especially of hydrochloroquine and paracetamol – to respond to growing global demands.External Affairs Minister of India Dr. S. Jaishankar also said that India supplied medicines to 150 countries during the pandemic, more than half on a non-commercial basis, to deal with medical complications arising from COVID. HC Dr. Srinivasa quoted Dr. Jaishankar who said that the Bhagavad Gita states ‘do your work with the welfare of others always in mind’ and Vaccine Maitri=Vaccine Friendship. It may be noted that Media calls our vaccine friendship effort as “Vaccine Diplomacy”.

Meanwhile, on Monday Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon. Gaston Browne along with H.E. Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, High Commissioner of India received the consignment of doses of vaccine, in a special ceremony held at V.C. Bird International Airport.

Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda spoke on the occasion. He thanked Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister H.E. Dr. S Jaishankar for the generous donation of Covid-19 vaccines to Antigua and Barbuda which strengthened their hands in the fight against the COVID pandemic.

In his speech on the occasion, High Commissioner highlighted that the gifting of vaccines to Antigua and Barbuda honoured Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to use India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity for helping all of humanity in fighting the crisis.

He emphasized the fact that Antigua and Barbuda received the vaccine in the first few days of India’s assistance to friendly countries, highlighted the special place Antigua and Barbuda occupies in India’s Foreign Policy.

It also bolstered India’s credentials as the immediate responder for Antigua and Barbuda in times of emergency situations. He reiterated that the arrival of Covid-19 vaccines in Antigua and Barbuda marked another milestone in our bilateral relations.

High Commissioner was happy to note that with India’s support, Antigua and Barbuda would be able to intensify the inoculation drive at such an early stage in the global fight against the pandemic. He hoped that the vaccine would help Antigua and Barbuda in saving lives, ameliorating suffering of brothers and sisters of Antigua and Barbuda and bringing the country’s economy back to normal.

While inaugurating the world’s largest vaccination drive in India on 16 January 2021, PM Modi had said “Today, when we’ve developed our own vaccine, the world is looking at India with hope. As our vaccination drive will move forward, other countries of the world will benefit from it. India’s vaccine and our production capability must be used for human interest; this is our commitment.” The gifting of Covid-19 vaccines today fulfills the pledge made by our Prime Minister.

India’s first indigenous vaccine against the novel coronavirus, Covaxin, developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute of Virology, Pune, is in the third phase of clinical trials.

Others like ZyCOV-D developed by Zydus Cadilla in Ahmedabad, and Novavax’s protein subunit vaccine, are also undergoing trials in various stages.

Multiple approved vaccines are likely to hit the Indian market in 2021. According to the Indian Health Minister, Dr Harshvardhan, at least 18-19 coronavirus vaccine candidates, including oral and nasal vaccines are in the pipeline and will be available for use in coming few months, highlighting India’s predominant role as the “pharmacy of the world”.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi received the first shot of the coronavirus vaccine, just as the campaign to inoculate those above 60 and above 45 with illnesses started nationwide in India. The country’s leader was injected at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.