Countries like Brazil and Morocco may need to wait a few days more for “made-in-India” Covid-19 vaccines as India sharpens its vaccine diplomacy to derive geopolitical and strategic gains. It is understood that the government is yet to approve landing rights for aircraft being sent to pick up the vaccine shipment.
With India having shipped off the first vaccine consignments to its immediate neighbours, sources said it will be a matter of days before vaccine exports can begin to Brazil and others like Saudi Arabia, Morocco and South Africa.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro had on January 15 said a plane would be sent to India to pick up the vaccines after making an urgent appeal in a letter to PM requesting two million doses of Covishield. But in a case of miscommunication between the two governments and Serum Institute, the process had to be halted. The Indian position had to be explained to the Bolsonaro government by ambassador Suresh Reddy. There is also a possibility that Air India may transport the vaccines to Brazil and Morocco once the government decides, instead of their planes flying into the country, sources said.
Meanwhile, Air India planes landed in Male and in Thimphu with doses of “Covishield” on Wednesday.