India to prioritize domestic Covid-19 jabs as infections surge

India will delay deliveries of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to a global programme to inoculate poorer countries triggered alarm on Thursday, with the head of Africa's disease control agency describing the continent as "helpless".

The world's biggest vaccine maker, said on Friday it would make domestic COVID-19 inoculations a priority as infections surge and had told international buyers of its decision.

India has exported 60.5 million doses, more than the number of inoculations conducted at home, and says there is no outright ban on exports.

"In the coming weeks and months obviously there will be a demand spike and obviously people are preparing for it," Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs said.

"In many cases, we have told our international partners that COVID rates are going up in India, we are expanding our own vaccination ambit, so we are sure you will understand that at this time we have to purpose it much more focused at where we are."

The Gavi alliance said in a statement that the COVAX vaccine-sharing facility had notified all affected economies of potential delays of exports by the Serum Institute of India (SII).

India is diverting more supplies from SII to inoculations at home. Its other vaccine maker, Bharat Biotech, is struggling to boost output.

"SII has pledged that, alongside supplying India, it will prioritize the COVAX multilateral solution for equitable distribution," Gavi said.

COVAX is a global vaccine allocation plan co-led by the World Health Organization and partners including the Gavi alliance.

India on Friday reported 59,118 new infections, taking its tally to 11.85 million. The death toll rose by 257 to stand at 160,949.