Emerging as a reliable partner in COVID-19 assistance in Asia by sending coronavirus vaccines to multiple countries, India on Thursday dispatched the vaccines to Bahrain and Sri Lanka. In the past, India has sent the vaccines to several countries including Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives.
Under the government's Vaccine Maitri initiative, Sri Lanka will be provided with a consignment of 50,400 doses of vaccines while Bahrain will receive 10,800 doses.
The consignment was loaded to the cardo aircraft at Mumbai airport which left at 7:55 for Manama. For Colombo, the consignment left at 9 am.
Bahrain had earlier approved Covishield to support its efforts towards vaccinating members at risk of developing complications from COVID-19.
Meanwhile, India has supplied COVID-19 vaccines to neighbouring countries including Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh under Neighbourhood First policy.
India's Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday had announced vaccine rollout for several countries from January 20.
India sees international cooperation in the area of fight against COVID-19 pandemic as its duty; New Delhi has played the role of the first responder in the region.