India bans Covid-19 vaccine export

India will not allow Serum Institute to export of the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine for several months.

The ban on exports means that poorer nations will probably have to wait a few months before receiving their first shots.

Adar Poonawalla, the head of Serum Institute of India, which has been contracted to make 1 billion doses of the vaccine for developing nations, said on Sunday.

In an interview with AP, the Serum Institute's CEO said, "The vaccine has been granted emergency authorisation by the Indian regulator, but on the condition that Serum Institute doesn't export the shots to ensure that vulnerable populations in India are protected."

"We can only give the vaccines to the government of India at the moment," Poonawalla said, adding the decision was also made to prevent hoarding.

He further said that the company also has been barred from selling the vaccine in the private market.

Earlier in the day, Serum Institute of India said it intends to concentrate on meeting India's own immediate demand in the next two months before exporting to other interested countries.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine secured approval from India's drug regulator on Friday for emergency use, paving the way for its rollout in the world's second worst affected country.