Covid-19: DGDA clears Serum vaccines for use

Covid-19 vaccine doses, manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII) and imported by Beximco Pharmaceuticals, have received clearance from the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) as no issues were observed with them.

Major General Mahbubur Rahman, directorate general of DGDA, confirmed the matter to the media on Tuesday afternoon.

"A certificate for five million doses of the vaccine has been issued by the Department of Drug Administration," he said, mentioning that it is a use suitability certificate.

The first consignment containing five million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine purchased by Bangladesh from the Serum Institute of India Pvt Limited arrived in Dhaka on Monday morning, which was then taken straight to Beximco Pharma's warehouse in Tongi, Gazipur for preservation.

Later in the day, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) DG Abul Bashar Mohammed Khurshid Alam at a press briefing at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said no one will be allowed to receive Covid-19 vaccine doses without online registration.