Beximco Pharmaceuticals, the local partner of Serum Institute of India (SII), has said that Bangladesh will get three crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines on time.
"It is our understanding that the statement was generalised. We believe we are on the priority list and we will get vaccine on time," Rabbur Reza, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Beximco Pharma, told.
Serum Institute of India, the Indian manufacturer of the AstraZeneca/Oxford coronavirus vaccine, said on Sunday it intends to concentrate on meeting India's own immediate demand in the next two months before exporting to other interested countries.
SII Chief Executive Adar Poonawalla said in an interview that the Indian government just wants to ensure that "the most vulnerable people of the country get it first".
Reza said in the agreement between Beximco and Serum Institute it was mentioned that after the local approval (approval from Bangladesh authority), SII will give the first batch of vaccine within one month.
"So, we hope that we will get the vaccine on time," he said, adding that Bangladesh is on the priority list as a "close neighbour".
When asked whether Beximco contacted SII after yesterday's development, he said, "We are in touch with them. Our contact (in SII) said they are yet to receive any directive either from the government or from the top management of the SII."
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