Incepta and Sinopharm to co-produce vaccine

A tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) among Sinopharm of China, Incepta Pharmaceuticals of Bangladesh and the Ministry of Health will be inked soon for co-production of the vaccine, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said on Monday.

"China has already sent the final MoU and the three sides will sign it soon. Under the agreement Incepta will receive bulk raw materials and will manufacture vaccines in their plant here," the minister said, while talking to the media.

"We need to quicken the process as it will take more than two months to start production after signing the MoU," he noted.

The minister mentioned that the country had over 10 million vaccines in stock now and was trying to raise it.

Chinese foreign minister assured that there would be an uninterrupted supply of the vaccines from China, said Dr Momen.

Bangladesh has inked a deal to purchase 15 million Sinopharm vaccines; already 8.1 million, including 1.1 million given as a gift, has arrived.

About the supply of the Sputnik vaccine from Russia, the minister said that the process might be delayed due to the emergence of a third wave in Russia.

Replying to a question, Dr Momen said that he recently had a meeting with the Indian foreign minister in Tashkent who assured him of resuming the supply of AstraZeneca soon.

"But he did not give any date," the Bangladesh foreign minister added.

Bangladesh signed a deal with the Indian Serum Institute for procuring 30 million vaccines. But after delivering 7.0 million in March, they halted the supply due to a surge in the domestic demand.

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