United Nations: Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly has said he had taken two doses of the Covishield vaccine manufactured in India. 

His remarks come after the British government's reluctance to endorse the Covishield and made a compulsory quarantine for Indians despite having two doses of Covishield. 

British made new rules that fully vaccinated Indians will have to undergo 10-day quarantine as the UK has issues with India's Covid-19 vaccine certification.

The Covishield vaccine, which has been developed by British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, is manufactured in India by Pune-based Serum Institute of India.

"On vaccines, that's a very technical question you have asked me. I got Covishield from India, I've got the two doses. I don't know how many countries would say that Covishield is acceptable or not, but a large portion of the countries has got Covishield," Mr Shahid said while addressing a press conference. 

Mr. Shahid responding to a question on whether any COVID vaccine should be recognised and considered or the ones that have been validated by the World Health Organisation or any other group.

India has exported over 66 million vaccine doses to nearly 100 countries through grants, commercial shipments and the COVAX facility. The Maldives, the home country of Mr Shahid, was among the first nations to receive the India-made vaccines in January when 100,000 doses of Covishield were dispatched to Male, NDTV reported. 

Shahid's home country, Maldives has received a total of 3.12 lakh doses of Made-in-India Covid vaccines. 

Met with the press this morning. Good range of topics - general debate, vaccines, climate change, youth, peace and security.

I intend to keep our exchanges going during this 76th Session. #UNGA #PresidencyOfHope pic.twitter.com/i4BKu6ZyY1

— Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) October 2, 2021