On Sunday, Mexico received a shipment of “Made in India” Covid-19 vaccines at the Mexico City airport. India delivered 870,000 doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine Covishield to Mexico. Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) manufactures Covishield.
While sharing the news, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said: “Expressing our Amistad. Mexico receives Made in India vaccines.” Amistad is a Spanish word that means “state of being friends” or “a unique relationship between two friends.”
Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico Marcelo Ebrard C thanked India for the vaccines. He said that it is the largest shipment of vaccines Mexico has received and it will be of great help to the vaccination plan.
Indian ambassador to Mexico Manpreet Vohra said that huge efforts were made by Jaishankar to deliver vaccine doses quickly upon Mexico’s special request.
According to the news website Medical Xpress, Mexico was the first country to receive a shipment of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine from Belgium. However, news agency ANI reported that the health ministry stated there was a shortage and it is expecting to receive the vaccines in weekly shipments by March.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said that more than 22.9 million doses had been supplied to the global community, out of which, 647 million doses were supplied as a grant while 16.5 million doses were given on a commercial basis. Apart from Mexico, India has also delivered vaccines to countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Canada, Dominica, Maldives, Bangladesh, Brazil, Mauritius, Nepal, and others. Various media reports also stated that MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that in the coming weeks India will supply vaccines to Africa, Latin America, CARICOM, and the Pacific Island states.
India has been praised by various international figures and media for its vaccine diplomacy.
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