INDIA'S MASSIVE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION DRIVE COMMENDED GLOBALLY

News 1st: India, which began exporting the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine doses last Wednesday (Jan. 20), has already sent supplies to neighbouring states Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Seychelles and extending further to even Brazil and Morocco. Among the latest countries to receive India's vaccine donations is Brazil; it is reported that Brazil received a consignment of 2 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine from India. After receiving 2 million doses of coronavirus vaccine from India, Brazil President Jair M. Bolsonaro had thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for vaccine export saying he feels honoured to have a great partner to overcome a global obstacle by joining efforts, foreign media reported. In his tweet, Bolsonaro shared an illustration that shows Lord Hanuman carrying a mountain with vaccines from India to Brazil. Dr. S. Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister via several Tweets posted on Friday (Jan. 22) commented about India's COVID-19 vaccine distribution process. "Made in India vaccine delivered to Mauritius. Expresses a #SAGAR goodwill," Dr. S. Jaishankar's tweet read following the successful distribution of a vaccine dose to Mauritius. Another tweet from Dr. S. Jaishankar read, "Indian vaccines reach Seychelles. That’s what friends are for." Dr. S. Jaishankar also commented on the vaccine distribution to Morocco; "Indian vaccines land in Casablanca. India & Morocco – a Beautiful Friendship." "Acting East. Acting fast. Indian vaccines have arrived in Myanmar to contribute to our neighbour’s inoculation efforts," Dr. S. Jaishankar tweeted after an Indian vaccine consignment reached Myanmar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had stated that India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used for the benefit of all humanity to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, according to India's Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava, reported foreign media. The Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) also commended India's Vaccination distribution drive. "We applaud India’s role in global health, sharing millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine in South Asia. India's free shipments of the vaccine began w/Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh & Nepal & will extend to others. India's a true friend using its pharma to help the global community," a tweet from the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) read. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Saturday (Jan. 23) said a consignment of the Indian COVID-19 vaccine will be brought to the country on Wednesday (27th January).