Crisis at home, India may still have to rush vaccine to neighbours

NEW DELHI: Despite the overwhelming public opinion against India’s vaccine exports, the government may have to consider exporting some vaccines in the coming months, especially in the country’s immediate neighbourhood.
The government is watching the evolving situation in Nepal, the Maldives and Bangladesh with growing concern. The first two are in the grip of a deadly Covid surge, most likely of the double mutant variant. In the Maldives, the Covid situation has deteriorated sharply, with the positivity rate at almost 60%. Male is under a curfew right now.
Nepal is struggling, with over a lakh active cases. The health infrastructure in the Himalayan country is on the verge of collapse. The health facilities lack testing and adequate oxygen capacity. The main hospital is not taking any new Covid patients. The spread of the infection this time has covered over 55 of the total 77 districts. An official assessment says the situation may worsen in the coming days. The Oli government is unlikely to be able to handle the crisis, which would put districts along the India-Nepal border at risk with patients crossing over for medical facilities.
The key is to speed up vaccination in these countries. The government’s decision to send vaccines overseas had received public criticism in view of vaccine shortage in the country. However, the government reckons that as the biggest power in the region, India would also have to look after the needs of its neighbours.