VACCINE MAITRI PROGRAMME

VACCINE MAITRI PROGRAMME

Subject: Governance / IR

Context: India is unlikely to resume its Vaccine Maitri programme for the neighbourhood, including Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, until at least July, given the sudden crunch in the availability of vaccines amidst a surge in COVID-19 cases, and the government’s plan for universal vaccination set to start on May 1.

Concept:

Vaccine Maitri

• India will supply Made-in-India Covid-19 vaccines to its neighboring and key partner countries Under its Neighborhood First policy.
• Bhutan and Maldives will be the first to get the vaccines followed by Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles.
• Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius will also get doses once they give necessary regulatory approvals.
• Pakistan has not been named as a neighboring country which will get the vaccine.
• Vaccine will be Supplied to the partner countries in a phased manner, keeping in mind the demand.
• Earlier Diplomacy measures by India:
• India had earlier supplied Hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir and Paracetamol tablets as well as diagnostic kits, ventilators, masks, gloves and other medical supplies to a large number of countries during the pandemic.
• Under the Partnerships for Accelerating Clinical Trials(PACT) programme, India has also provided training to several neighbouring countries to enhance and strengthen their clinical capabilities

PACT programme:

• It has been launched for supporting COVID-19 vaccine development activities in partnering countries.
• The initiative is being implemented by Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and Clinical Development Services Agency(CDSA) under the aegis of the National Biopharma Mission and Ind-CEPI Mission of DBT.