Bengaluru: As India continues to export vaccines to several countries, reports state that UNICEF has entered into an agreement with Serum Institute of India for supply of Astra Zeneca/Oxford and Novavax vaccines. 

Executive Director Henrietta Fore of UNICEF said, "Today we are pleased to announce the conclusion of a long-term supply agreement with the Serum Institute of India for COVID-19 vaccines, to access two vaccine products through technology transfer from ASTRAZENECA and NOVAVAX,” as reported by PTI. 

India has exemplified the statement Vasudaiva kutumbakam. In the last several weeks, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has exported vaccines to many countries. 

They are: 

1. Sri Lanka
2. Nepal
3. Bangladesh
4. Maldives
5. Bhutan
6. Myanmar
7. Seychelles
8. Brazil
9. Morocco
10. Mauritius
11. Bahrain

What is heart-warming is that, while India continues to export vaccines to other countries, it has also achieved the rare feat of vaccinating 4 million in the least possible time.  

Incidentally, India was also the fastest country to reach the 1 million mark.

“India was the fastest country to reach 1 million Covid-19 vaccinations within six days. The United States achieved it in 10 days, Spain in 12 days, Israel in 14 days, the United Kingdom in 18 days, Italy in 19 days, Germany in 20 days and the United Arab Emirates in 27 days,” Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had said in New Delhi, as quoted by Times Now.  

Atmanirbhar Bharat:

This project, as envisioned by the Prime Minister himself, aims at making India self-reliant, and at the same time, becoming the manufacturing hub of the world. True to this aim of the PM, India has produced these vaccines.  

The budget presented by Nirmala Sitharaman has Atmanirbhar Bharat at its core. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made this announcement, as per which, he hopes India becomes self-reliant and goes on to become the manufacturing hub of the world.