India Vaccination Drive: Pakistan Seeks Instructions From Foreign Ministry For Inoculation Of Staffers In New Delhi

In January, the government as a gesture of goodwill and solidarity, has considered offering Covid-19 vaccination to eligible foreign diplomats and their family members, but specified that it would be on a voluntary basis

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In its effort to offer vaccination to diplomats under its Covid-19 vaccination drive in the national capital, Pakistani diplomats were invited to get inoculated. Now, Pakistan High Commission has sought instructions from Pak Foreign Ministry on the recent offer made by the government for offering covid vaccination to its high commission diplomats and staffers. 

The initiative remains part of the government's offer to the entire foreign diplomatic community-based in Delhi. The diplomats of China were offered vaccines, too. 

India has been connecting with foreign diplomats on its vaccination drive. As per the report in DNA, more than 50 foreign envoys visited the southern city of Hyderabad to witness the country's vaccine production centres at two biotechnology companies - Bharat Biotech and Biological E. During that visit, the foreign envoys were also biefed on India’s efforts to develop Covid-19 vaccines and clinical trials.

Meanwhile, India has dispatched its first batch of vaccines to Myanmar, Seychelles, and Mauritius. The vaccines from the Serum Institute of India (SII) were sent to the three neighbouring nations from the Mumbai airport. Before that India delivered vaccines to Nepal and Bangladesh as well.

As per the news agency PTI, India has so far sent consignments of coronavirus vaccines under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Seychelles.

Last month, the government as a gesture of goodwill and solidarity has considered offering Covid-19 vaccination to eligible foreign diplomats and their family members accredited to all Diplomatic Missions, including Consulates, United Nations and its specialized agencies, and other international organizations, based in India, as per the letter from the Ministry of External Affairs. The Indian Express report cited the letter but mentioned the vaccination would be on a voluntary basis, and in accordance with the phased plan of domestic roll-out.