Ward off Omicron, India promises more COVID vaccines to Africa

The Government of India is prepared to support affected countries in Africa in dealing with the Omicron variant, including by supplying India-made vaccines

India is preparing to quickly send more COVID-19 vaccines to Africa to help fight the Omicron variant, the New Delhi government said late Monday after China pledged one million doses for the continent.

India and China have close ties with African nations, but Beijing has already contributed heavily to the region and on Monday pledged to invest $10 billion.

India said it had supplied more than 25 million doses of locally made vaccines to 41 African countries, mostly through the global vaccine distribution network, COVAX.

"The Indian government is prepared to support the affected countries in Africa in dealing with the Omicron variant, including by supplying Indian-made vaccines," India's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

"Supplies can be delivered via COVAX or bilaterally," he added.

The Indian government has completed all orders through COVAX for the supply of AstraZeneca vaccine to countries such as Malawi, Ethiopia, Zambia, Mozambique, Guinea and Lesoto in addition to sending doses of the locally produced vaccine, Covaxin, to Botswana.

India did not say how many doses it had received recently.

"Any new requirements foreseen either bilaterally or through COVAX will be considered as soon as possible," he said.

India has also promised supplies of life-saving medicines, test kits, gloves, personal protective equipment (PPE), medical devices, such as ventilators on demand.

India last month restarted international shipments of a COVID-19 vaccine for the first time since April when it shut down exports to inject vaccines into its own nationals due to a surge in infections.

Domestic production of the vaccine has tripled since then to around 300 million doses per month. The country has injected at least one dose of the vaccine into 83 percent of its 944 million adults and a complete dose of 47 percent.

Chinese president promises to add 1 billion doses of vaccine for Africa

Chinese President Xi Jinping has promised to provide an additional one billion doses of a COVID-19 vaccine for African countries currently battling the Omicron variant.

"In addition, we will take over 10 health and medical projects in African countries and send 1,500 medical personnel and experts to Africa," Xi said in remarks at the opening of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum (FOCAC) Ministerial Conference via video stream from Beijing. , Monday (29/11).

He said China had supplied 1.7 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to more than 110 countries and organizations, including 50 countries in Africa.

China is also actively co-producing vaccines in Africa in an effort to contain the pandemic.

Now several companies have started production locally in Egypt and signed memorandums of cooperation with Morocco and Algeria, Xi said. China also promised to implement nine cooperation programs with Africa.

"I am confident that the joint efforts of China and Africa will allow FOCAC to successfully unite the great power of 2.7 billion Chinese and African citizens towards common prosperity," said the top leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC).

Therefore, the Chinese government will continue to encourage businesses to invest more than 10 billion US dollars into Africa in the next three years.

For China, Africa is its biggest trading partner in the last 12 years.