SII: No bar on vaccine export

Producer of Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine, Serum Institute of India, has said that there is no ban on export of vaccines from India.

SII Public Relations Officer Mayank Sen confirmed the matter to BBC on Monday amid news that India barred the export of Covid-19 vaccines made by the company to other countries.

On Sunday, the head of SII had said that would not allow the export of the Oxford University-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for several months. 

SII has been contracted to make 1 billion doses of the vaccine for developing nations.

However, the company is yet to secure the permission for the export of Covid-19 vaccine which may take upto a few months, Mayank said.

Also, prior to exporting, SII would have to give 100 million doses of the vaccine to the Indian government, he said.

But, at this time, SII would not be allowed to export since it does not have the permission to do so, he reiterated.

Also Read - Health Minister: Bangladesh to get Indian vaccines on time

In Bangladesh, while addressing a press briefing at the Secretariat on Monday, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said India assured Bangladesh of providing Covid-19 vaccines as per the existing contract between the two neighbouring nations.

Health Secretary Abdul Mannan, at the same briefing, said: “The new decision from Serum Institute of India will not affect our contract as we have done it through G2G [government to government buying] process.”

Also Read - Beximco: No uncertainty over getting vaccine from India

Similarly, Beximco Pharmaceuticals, who would are in-charge of the supply chain in Bangladesh, has also said that there is no doubt that Bangladesh would get the vaccines from SII.

Beximco Pharmaceuticals Chief Operating Officer (COO) Rabbur Reza on Monday told Bangla Tribune that Bangladesh will get the vaccines as per the agreement, in due time.