Health Minister: We have to think of alternative if vaccine does not arrive

Due to the recent rise in coronavirus infections, India has temporarily suspended the export of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine

The Health Minister Zahid Maleque said the vaccination program is running as of now but there might be a change of plans as Bangladesh did not receive the vaccine consignment it was due to receive this month. 

Participating in the inauguration ceremony of the expanding of the National Heart Institute and Hospital on Monday, the Health Minister said: “We are continuing the vaccination program. We did not receive the vaccine that was supposed to arrive this month but we are trying to get it as soon as possible. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also informed Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi about the matter.”

"If we get the number of vaccines we are supposed to get, the vaccination program will not be disrupted. And if we don't get the vaccine, then naturally we have to think anew,” he added.

Bangladesh signed an agreement last November to buy 30 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine from the Serum Institute of India. According to the agreement, Beximco Pharmaceuticals is responsible for supplying the vaccine from India. 

According to the agreement, Bangladesh was supposed to get 30 million doses of vaccine in six months with five million doses per month. 

According to him, even though five million doses arrived in the country in January, Bangladesh got two million doses in February shipment due to huge demand and crisis of vaccine supply worldwide.

Apart from this, the Government of India has given a total of 3.2 million doses as gift in two phases, all of which are Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines produced at the Serum Institute.

Due to the recent rise in coronavirus infections, India has temporarily suspended the export of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine due to its own necessities, which has created uncertainty over the availability of the vaccine.

The health minister said on Monday that the World Health Organization had already been contacted for the vaccine.

"However, vaccines are not available from there now. They say they cannot provide the Covax vaccine before May-June.”

Zahid Maleque said the government is also trying to collect vaccines from other sources. Whoever provides it, the government will accept it graciously.

"We are continuing the talks. If we get any assurance from there, we will move forward positively. The prime minister herself is trying to ensure that everyone can get vaccinated and that vaccination activities are not disrupted.”

After receiving the first consignment of vaccines, mass vaccination started from February 7 across the country. The second dose is scheduled to start on April 8