By Krishna N. Das

NEW DELHI (Reuters – India will resume COVID-19 shot deliveries to COVAX global vaccine-sharing platform COVAX within a few weeks, sources in the industry said. The move would bring an end to a shortage that has harmed poor countries.

India was urged by the World Health Organization, which leads COVAX, to resume supplies after having sent 4 million doses to neighbours and other partners last October.

COVAX officials began planning Covishield shots allocations based on India’s informal approval, according to one source. Both sources declined to identify themselves until a final agreement is reached.

Covishield, a licensed AstraZeneca shot (NASDAQ:), is made by Serum Institute of India. It’s the largest vaccine manufacturer in the world.

SII’s production of Covishield has almost quadrupled to more than 240 million per month. This is despite India having stopped exports to India in April to help inoculate itself during an influx of cases.

According to the source, purchase orders will have to be approved to SII. They must also include labelling and packing information. Export authorisations for all shipments will need to been granted. So the Indian government won’t allow the first shipment until several weeks after the purchase orders are confirmed.

SII and WHO didn’t immediately reply to comments.

In a statement, the ministry stated that India had over 159 million doses unutilized of vaccines. This is because inoculations have slowened after 79% received one dose of vaccination and 37% received two.

Adar Poonawalla (CEO SII) told Reuters that SII could ship 20-30,000 million or more doses to COVAX every month in November and Dec. The company’s volume would then increase from January, once India’s requirements are met.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated on Friday that COVAX has the funds and contracts to purchase vaccines for low income countries. However, “manufacturers are not playing their part”.

COVAX lowered its delivery goal for 2021 by almost 30% in September to 1.42 billion doses.