A post is being shared on social media with a claim that 123 countries have ordered the COVID-19 vaccine from Bharath Biotech. India’s indigenous COVID-19 vaccine – COVAXIN has been developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – National Institute of Virology (NIV). Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: 123 countries have ordered COVID-19 vaccine from the Bharath Biotech.
Fact: Bharat Biotech did not mention anywhere about 123 countries ordering their COVID-19 vaccine. It just mentions that it has been approached by several countries across the world for the procurement of COVAXIN. ‘123 countries’ mentioned in the post is about the reach of all of Bharath Biotech’s vaccines. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
When we searched about the claim made in the post, no credible data regarding the orders from 123 countries for Bharath Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine was found. ‘123 countries’ mentioned in the post is about the reach of all of Bharath Biotech’s vaccines. On Bharat Biotech’s website, it is mentioned – “We have been at the forefront in delivering >4 billion doses of vaccines to 123 countries”.
Bharat Biotech did not mention anywhere about 123 countries ordering their COVID-19 vaccine. It just mentions that it has been approached by several countries across the world for the procurement of COVAXIN. Under the ‘Global Acceptance of COVAXIN’, Bharat Biotech website mentions – ‘Clinical trial in Bangladesh to commence soon. Supplies from the government to government in the following countries to take place: Mongolia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Bahrain, Oman, Maldives and Mauritius.’ The news reports regarding the government sending vaccines to different countries can be read here and here. In a press release, Bharat Biotech has announced that it has signed an agreement with Precisa Medicamentos for the supply of COVAXIN to Brazil.
Also, when a similar post went viral with the claim – ‘190 countries have pre-booked the Bharat Biotech COVID-19 vaccine that India has developed’, FACTLY has debunked the claim and written a fact-check article, which can be read here.
To sum it up, ‘123 countries’ mentioned in the post is about the reach of all of Bharath Biotech’s vaccines.
