India Has Edge In COVID-19 Vaccines, Says Global Study

New Delhi: Having used its manufacturing capability to pre-order 600 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, India is now negotiating for another one billion doses.

According to a new global analysis of advance market commitments (AMCs) for experimental vaccines till October 8, this would be enough to vaccinate at least half of India’s population. Most experimental COVID-19 vaccines need a couple of doses.

India’s figures are only second to the United States. The US has pre-ordered 810 million confirmed doses and is negotiating for another 1.6 billion.

“In terms of numbers of confirmed doses, the USA has pre-ordered the largest number (810 million confirmed, another 1.6 billion doses under negotiation), followed by India (600 million doses confirmed, with another 1 billion doses under negotiation), and the EU (400 million doses confirmed, another 1.565 billion doses under negotiation). But in terms of percent of population covered by confirmed purchases, Canada has pre-purchased enough vaccine to cover 527% of their population, followed by the UK at 277% of their population,” assistant director of programmes at the Duke Global Health Innovation Center, Andrea D Taylor, who led the analysis, was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

“Of course, it is important to remember that most likely only some of the vaccine purchases will come through, depending on regulatory approval,” Taylor said.

“India is producing vaccines to protect the world against Covid-19, why shouldn’t it ensure its own citizens are protected as well? The government is committed to protecting the health of its citizens, so all measures have been taken to ensure we get adequate doses of the vaccines when they are available,” a senior Union health ministry official was quoted by the paper on the condition of anonymity.