An Indian Air Force aircraft delivered the first consignment of 1,50,000 doses of Covishield vaccines to Bhutan on Wednesday, making it the first country to receive the git from India, which was received by Prime Minister Dr. Lotay Tshering.

As per an official release, the AN32 aircraft delivered the vaccines to Bhutan, just four days after India's own massive roll-out of the vaccine. Dr. Tshering, Health Minister Dechen Wangmo, foreign secretary Kinga Singye and a few other senior officials received the vaccines from Indian Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj at the Paro International Airport, the release said.

Notably, Bhutan is the first country reportedly to receive the Government of India's gift of the COVID vaccines, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII). Receiving the vaccine, Bhutan PM said it was a gift from a trusted friend, who has been with Bhutan all through the decades and in this pandemic too.

"As we celebrate the arrival of the vaccine as the new landmark in our battle to beat the pandemic at home, we applaud the gesture that signifies the compassion and generosity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the people of India for the wellbeing of humanity," Bhutan PM said.

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