WHO Says India May Resume Covid-19 Vaccines to Africa This Year
The Serum Institute of India said in May exports were unlikely to resume until the end of the year.
(Bloomberg) -- The World Health Organization said talks are underway with India for a resumption of Covid-19 vaccine exports to African countries following a pause during a deadly wave of infections earlier this year.
“Be assured the conversation is ongoing, be assured that supply will restart this year,” Bruce Aylward, a senior WHO official, said at a briefing Tuesday. “We are hoping we can get assurance it can start even faster than later this year and in the coming weeks.”
India had been supplying doses to Covax, the equitable vaccine initiative on which most African countries are reliant. The government then moved to prioritize its own population after the Delta virus variant began sweeping through major cities.
The Serum Institute of India Ltd., the vaccine manufacturer that was meant to provide many poorer nations with Covid-19 shots, said in May exports were unlikely to resume until the end of the year.
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