Covid-19 vaccine will come from India's SII on time: Beximco

Bangladesh will get three crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines from Serum Institute of India (SII) on time as the country is on its priority list, said Beximco Pharmaceuticals.

Beximco Pharmaceuticals is the local partner of Serum Institute of India.

While talking about the Indian ban on vaccine export, Rabbur Reza, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Beximco Pharma said: "It is our understanding that the statement was generalised. We believe we are on the priority list and we will get vaccine on time.

Citing the agreement, Reza said Serum Institute mentioned in the agreement 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.

India on Sunday decided not to allow Serum Institute to export the vaccine for several months.

The ban on exports means that poorer nations will probably have to wait a few months before receiving their first shots.

In an interview with AP, India's Serum Institute's CEO Adar Poonawalla said, "The vaccine has been granted emergency authorisation by the Indian regulator on Sunday, but on the condition that Serum Institute doesn't export the shots to ensure that vulnerable populations in India are protected."