By Elishya Perera
DHAKA, Bangladesh (CWBN)_ The Bangladesh government will distribute 30 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for free, the country’s Cabinet Secretary announced on Monday (Nov 30).
Following a cabinet meeting, Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said that the vaccines are expected to be imported in January and will be distributed according to the protocols established by the World Health Organisation in determining who would qualify to receive them.
The government has already allocated taka 7.35 billion (around $87 million) to purchase the vaccines, which will be sufficient for 15 million Bangladeshis (since it is administered in two doses per person).
Bangladesh signed an agreement with India’s Serum Institute on November 4 to receive this batch of the Oxford vaccine so that the country would receive it via the institute once developed and authorised.
It has been reported that the government has already requested for loan assistance from donor agencies to ensure smooth financing of the vaccines.
The South Asian country is also expected to receive 68 million doses of the vaccine from the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, an international organisation bringing together governments, global health organisations, manufacturers, experts and the private sector, in order to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 diagnostics, treatments and vaccines.
According to the Bangladesh Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Bangladesh reported 2,198 new COVID-19 cases and 38 new deaths on Wednesday (Dec 2), bringing the total number of infections to 469,423 and the death toll to 6,713.
Edited by Kaveesha Fernando
