Serum to export vaccine to Bangladesh by 25 Jan: Beximco
"Beximco has completed 75% of its preparation for vaccine management"
Serum Institute of India will export Covid-19 vaccine doses to Bangladesh in between 21-25 January, said Beximco Chief Operating Officer (COO) Rabbur Reza.
"The government's 50 lakh doses is assured in the first lot, however the 10 lakh doses of commercial deal have not been confirmed yet," the Beximco COO told The Business Standard today ending all speculations surrounding the vaccine.
Rabbur Reza said, "Beximco has completed 75% of its preparation for vaccine management. The vehicles to carry the vaccines after shipment are also been arranged almost."
He also hoped to get lab testing permission from Director General of Drug Administration (DGDA) within 48 hours on emergency basis after arrival of the vaccine.
The Covid-19 vaccine will be kept in two Beximco warehouses in Gazirpur's Tongi. Later, the doses will be sent to EPI centre maintaining cold chain.
Earlier, on 5 November 2020, Bangladesh's health ministry signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Serum Institute of India and Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd to import the vaccine under development by Oxford/AstraZeneca.
As per the deal, Serum was supposed to supply three crore doses of the vaccine, 50 lakh per month, in the initial six months of the first phase.