India is providing 1 million doses of its indigenous Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, produced by Bharat Biotech, based at Hyderabad to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, a senior government official with knowledge of the development told CNN-News18.
The first shipment consisting of 5 lakh doses of Covaxin was sent by Mahan (Iran) Airways and would reach in Kabul, the Afghan capital on Saturday.
A second shipment is expected to sent in the second week of January, including further 5 lakh doses as well, the sources added.
This is the first time the Narendra Modi government has shipped Covid-19 vaccines to Afghanistan after the Taliban formed government there in September.
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Doses of Covaxin are being shipped to Afghanistan as part of the government's Vaccine Maitri program, a diplomatic initiative to offer and deliver India-made vaccines to low-income and developing countries around the world.
Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Brazil, Morocco, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria are among the beneficiaries of the 'initiative.
Currently, Bharat Biotech produces around 70 million doses per month and expects to reach an annualized capacity of one billion doses in the coming months.
The company has expanded its manufacturing capacity across its facilities in Hyderabad, Ankleshwar, Pune and Malur.
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Covaxin was included in the WHO list in November, paving the way for India to commit to providing vaccines to COVAX, the agency-led global vaccine exchange effort. Currently, Covaxin has emergency use listings with more than 20 countries, and more than 50 countries are expected to grant the EUA to vaccine soon.
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