Gov't Delays Large Exports Of AZ Doses In Blow To EU, UK Vaccine Efforts

India's Economic Times and Reuters are reporting that according to sources the Indian gov't is put a temporary hold on all large exports of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII) due to a shortage of doses and rising cases domestically.

• The news will come as a blow to both the UK and EU's vaccination efforts, but also up to 180 countries worldwide reliant on the WHO's COVAX vaccine-sharing facility.
• The Economic Times quotes the source as saying "Everything else has taken a backseat, for the time being at least [...] No exports, nothing till the time the India situation stabilises. The government won't take such a big chance at the moment when so many need to be vaccinated in India."
• The SII is the world's largest single manufacturer of vaccines.