Brazil has announced the suspension of the $324 million contract to buy 20 million doses of Bharat Biotech's anti-COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, some media reports said.
The announcement has been made by the country's Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga and head of the Federal Comptroller General (CGU) Wagner Rosario.

Bharat Biotech is Hyderabad-based biotechnology company in India.

The suspension comes amid a probe into Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro's alleged irregularities in the deal which was signed in February this year.

The country's Senate is probing into the deal between the Bolsonaro government and broker Need Medicines.

Countering the charge, Bolsonaro said the Senate is trying to undermine his administration.

Meanwhile, Bharat Biotech on Wednesday said it has not received any advance payment from Brazil.

"Emergency use authorisation received on 4 June. As of 29 June, Bharat Biotech has not received any advance payments nor supplied any vaccines to Brazil," Bharat Biotech said in a statement quoted by IBNS. (SAM)