Mexico to import 8.7L doses of COVID vaccine from India, says President

Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday that besides local production the country plans to import about 8.7 lakh doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from India, where it is being produced by the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, Serum Institute of India.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, named Covishield, and indigenously developed Covaxin (of Bharat Biotech) are the two vaccines being produced in India and are being used in the country’s mass inoculation programme following emergency use approval from regulators.

Till January 28, India has gifted over 55 lakh doses of vaccines to several countries, which include Sri Lanka, Bahrain, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives Myanmar, Mauritius, and Seychelles, according to the foreign ministry. Besides, Caribbean Community countries, Pacific Island states, and Nicaragua will also get vaccine “gifts” from India.

AstraZeneca has struck a deal with Mexico and Argentina for local production of its vaccine for distribution in Latin America. Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim’s foundation is financing it.

“We are also getting AstraZeneca vaccines, apart from the agreement we have with them – these vaccines are being made here in Mexico – we will bring AstraZeneca from India,” said Lopez Obrador in a video broadcast on social media, according to Reuters. He said that the delivery of around 1.5 million doses of Pfizer vaccine would probably begin on February.

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Lopez Obrador, who revealed on Sunday he was infected with COVID-19, further said that Russia would send 8.7 lakh doses of their Sputnik V vaccine to Mexico in February. Another 18 lakh doses will arrive next month through a UN-backed system, he added as the nation is struggling to secure mass supply of vaccines amid delivery delays and rising cases.

Besides, the president said that next month the country is also supposed to receive six million doses of the CanSino Biologics vaccine, who clinical trial data is yet to be shared. Also, they may receive about 12 million doses of the Chinese vaccine in March, he added.