The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) today issued the "Lot Release Certificate" for Covishield -- the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India -- to Beximco Pharmaceutical Ltd.

Through this, there will be no legal restriction from the DGDA -- the apex drug regulatory body of the government -- to use the vaccines.

Major General Md Mahbubur Rahman, director general of the DGDA, informed journalists at a press briefing today.

According to DGDA officials, Lot Release Certificate is mandatory for the use of produced or imported vaccines of each lot while it is usually not mandatory for other drugs.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the much-anticipated Covid-19 vaccination virtually at Kurmitola General Hospital in Dhaka.

In the afternoon, Health Minister Zahid Maleque along with other health officials visited the hospital to witness the preparation in this regard there.