India is holding up export licences for Covid-19 vaccines destined for poor countries due to increased domestic demand as its own cases rise, Covax facility co-leader Gavi has said.

The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is being produced under licence in India for the Covax scheme, also led by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which is meant to ensure that low-income countries can access Covid-19 jabs.

“Delays in granting further export licenses for Serum Institute (SII) of India-produced Covid-19 vaccine doses are due to the increased demand of Covid-19 vaccines in India,” a Gavi spokesman told AFP.

SII is manufacturing vaccines for 64 lower-income countries via Covax, and for India's domestic vaccination campaign.