(Asian News Hub) – India’s export ban on COVID-19 shots risks dragging the battle against the pandemic “back to square one,” health specialists said.
COVAX, which is critical for poorer countries, relies on AstraZeneca shots made by the Serum Institute of India, the world’s biggest maker of vaccines. It was already around 100 million doses short of where it had planned to be when India halted exports a month ago amid a surge in infections there.
India is now extending its ban, meaning it is now unlikely to resume major exports before October.
This means the pandemic could be prolonged as the world struggles to contain a virus that is continuing to spread and mutate.
AGENCY
