India Likely to Suspend Vaccine Exports Until at Least October

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] India, the world's largest vaccine factory, is expected to halt COVID-19 vaccine exports at least until October.

Major foreign media outlets reported on the 18th (local time), citing anonymous sources from the Indian government, stating that "the prolonged export suspension has worsened the shortage of vaccine supplies for the international joint procurement project 'COVAX Facility'."

India's Serum Institute (SII), the world's largest manufacturer of the AstraZeneca vaccine, was scheduled to supply 1.1 billion doses of AstraZeneca or Novavax vaccines to COVAX.

However, as confirmed cases surged in India, vaccine exports were temporarily suspended on March 25 to secure domestic supply. SII initially announced that vaccine supply would resume around June.

UNICEF, responsible for the logistics of COVAX vaccines, projected that due to India's export suspension, there would be a shortage of 140 million doses by the end of this month and 190 million doses by the end of next month for COVAX.

UNICEF stated, "If the Group of Seven (G7) countries share just 20% of their available vaccines from June to August, they could donate 153 million doses," adding, "These countries can share vaccines with COVAX without affecting their own vaccination programs."