India on Monday officially decided to export Covid-19 vaccines to Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Nepal free of costs as a ‘goodwill’ gesture.
The two vaccines approved in India on 3 January are Covishield and Covaxin. While Covishield is Oxford-AstraZeneca’s vaccine manufactured by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), Covaxin is manufactured by Bharat Biotech, and co-developed with the Indian Council of Medical Research.
On Monday, officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (parent ministry of the Department of Pharmaceuticals) met the representatives of Bharat Biotech and SII to discuss the export plan.
The government has decided to send the first tranche to help the countries “meet their immediate requirements”, told official sources.
“As a goodwill gesture, thernment is planning to send Covaxin to Mongolia, Oman, Myanmar, Philippines, Bahrain, Maldives, and Mauritius,” said a senior official, who was part of the meeting. 
“Covishield will be sent to Bhutan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Seychelles,” the officials added.
The Health Services Division under the Ministry has issued a letter to the drug regulator the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) to take appropriate steps to administer the vaccine.
The vaccines will be received and stored at DGHS’ facilities, such as the Expanded Program on Immunisation (EPI), Dhaka Tribune further said.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said that additional storage for the COVID-19 vaccines will be provided by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).