Covid vaccine deal was not a G2G one: Beximco

Beximco Pharmaceuticals has cleared that the deal to purchase Covid-19 vaccine from India's Serum Institute was not a G2G (Government to Government) contract.

However, in a press briefing today, Bangladesh's Health Secretary Abdul Mannan claimed that the agreement Bangladesh had regarding coronavirus vaccine acquisition is a G2G (Government to Government) deal and the ban Indian government imposed is on commercial export.

Beximco Pharma's Chief Operating Officer (COO) Rabbur Reza told The Business Standard, "A tripartite agreement was inked among Serum Institute, Beximco and the government of Bangladesh for the Oxford vaccine."

He also assured that Bangladesh will get Covid-19 vaccines from India in time as per the deal.

"We hope to get the vaccine in time. However, it cannot be specified when we will receive the doses. According to the agreement, the vaccine will be brought into the country within a month following approval from our regulatory authority on the use of the Oxford vaccine in the country. We will submit all the documents including the copy of India's approval within an hour today for the formal approval of the Directorate General of Drug Administration," the CEO added.

He further said, "More than 70 countries have applied to India for the vaccine. As the closest country, Bangladesh can hope that the ban imposed by India will not affect the deal."

"According to the agreement, we have to bring three crore doses of vaccine within six months from the vaccine rolling date," added the CEO.