Bharat Biotech signed an agreement with Brazil  to provide its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin

Bharat Biotech on Tuesday, 12 January, signed an agreement with Precisa Medicamentos to provide its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin to Brazil.The supplies of Covaxin are going to be prioritized for public market, through direct procurement by Brazil government, the corporate said during a statement.

According to a handout by the Hyderabad-based pharma company, the team met Bharat Biotech chief Dr Krishna Ella on January 7 and January 8 at its facility in Hyderabad's Genome Valley. Ambassador of Brazil to India, André Aranha Corrêa do Lago also joined the discussion virtually.

Covaxin is being indigenously developed byBharatBiotechin collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Virology (NIV).Meanwhile, on 3 January, India's drugs regulator had approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use within the country. The mega vaccination drive in India is slated to start from 16 January 2021.India is sourcing a complete of 55 lakh doses from Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech's Covaxin vaccine.