POBNEWS24, Dhaka Jul 13, 2021 : Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen
today reiterated that Bangladesh would overcome the vaccine shortage
soon as Dhaka is getting assurance more and more jabs from different
sources especially under COVAX framework.
“We are working hard … there will be no difficulties over vaccine
(supply),” he told reporters at his residence adding that most of the
promised vaccine are coming through COVAX arrangement.
The foreign minister said that Japan would send 2.9 million doses
AstraZeneca vaccine instead of earlier pledged 2.5 million under
COVAX.
It will help to vaccinate those 1.5 million people who are awaiting
to get second dose of AstraZeneca vaccine, he added.
Referring to the Bangladesh envoy in Geneva, the minister said that
Dhaka would get three million doses of Moderna vaccine under COVAX.
This shipment is ready to send here, he said, adding that Dhaka has
already received 2.5 million such jabs doses earlier under the same
initiative.
Dr Momen said that Bangladesh will also receive one million doses
of COVID vaccine from the European Union (EU) while Dhaka is scheduled
to get another 60,20,000 inoculation doses under the COVAX arrangement
in August next.
COVAX, a global alliance, is a worldwide initiative aimed at
equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines directed by Gavi, the Vaccine
Alliance.
Besides, the foreign minister said China will give one million more
doses of Sinopharm vaccine as gift to Bangladesh soon.
Apart from gift, Bangladesh also bought Chinese vaccine
commercially and has already received 2m doses out of those purchased
jabs from Beijing.
Momen also expressed his optimism that the local pharmaceuticals
will start COVIOD vaccine coproduction with Chinese and Russian firms
soon.
Earlier, the Foreign Minister said that the government had already
made a good lineup of getting more COVID-19 vaccines from different
sources along with commercial purchase to ensure steady supply of jabs
for the countrymen.
He hoped that Dhaka would get rest of the purchased Indian vaccine
when COVID situation improves in the neighboring country.
Bangladesh has so far approved eight COVID-19 vaccines to control
the deadly disease.
