India is counted among the countries with more vaccine making capacity than many developed countries. Exports of the vaccine have now been stopped, preventing many countries from getting the vaccine, while uttar pradesh, the largest populated state, has floated a global tender for vaccine import. Hundreds of vaccinating centres across the country have been closed due to non-availability of vaccine. Those of you who are trying unsuccessfully to register for vaccines on the Arogya Setu app and Cowin website every day will know how big a challenge it is.



Vaccination could not start in many countries

There are dozens of countries in the world where corona vaccination could not start because they do not have the money to buy the vaccine and the means to make it. The Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) has been repeatedly saying since last year that poor and low-income countries have lagged behind in vaccination. He criticized wealthy countries last month for ordering excessive vaccines for their own populations and not paying attention to poor countries. He said last month that only 0.3% of vaccines planted around the world have reached people in poor countries.



According to bbc data, 1.30 billion vaccine doses had been administered worldwide by May 10, with China leading with 326 million vaccines. The United States is second and has vaccinated nearly 260 million people so far. The European Union has vaccinated 172 million people and India at number four has vaccinated 170 million people. But in many poor countries in Africa and South America, the pace of vaccine giving is very sluggish.