Govt approves Beximco’s import, distribution of Covid-19 vaccine from India

The government has authorized Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited to import and distribute the Covid-19 vaccine, jointly developed by the European pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and Oxford University, from India.

The decision was taken at a 14-member emergency expert committee meeting of the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) on Thursday.

DGDA Deputy Director Md Salauddin said: “Beximco pharma can now import and distribute the Covid-19 vaccine from India. It will first supply the vaccine in meeting the government’s requirements. Then it can supply the vaccine to private hospitals approved by the government.”

Earlier on Monday, the government issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) on emergency use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

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After the UK authorized the vaccine on Wednesday, India’s drug regulator on Friday approved the vaccine for emergency use.

The Serum Institute of India (SII) is the local manufacturer of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

In November, Bangladesh signed an agreement with the SII, through which Beximco Pharma will avail 30 million doses of the vaccine.

In the initial six months of the first phase, the SII is supposed to provide five million vaccine doses per month to Bangladesh through Beximco.

Additionally, the DGDA on Wednesday approved for clinical trial Globe Biotech Limited’s manufacture of its Covid-19 vaccine, Bongavax.