Staff Reporter :
The government is likely to start nationwide vaccination programme on 8 February.
“The trial vaccination will begin by 28 January at Kurmitola Hospital. After observing the vaccinated people for one week, the nationwide inoculation programme likely to begin on 8 February,” Health Services Division Secretary Abdul Mannan said in a press briefing on Wednesday.
The Covid-19 vaccines will be given first to 25 front liners at Kurmitola General Hospital in the capital by 27-28 January, said Health Services Division Secretary Abdul Mannan.
“Later 500-600 more people will be vaccinated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Kurmitola General Hospital, Mugda General Hospital and Kuwait-Bangladesh Friendship Hospital the next day.
The vaccination will begin with the jabs gifted by India.
The 20 lakh doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, gifted by India to Bangladesh, will reach at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Thursday noon, instead of Wednesday due to flight delay.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque will receive the vaccine at the airport. Indian High Commissioner Vikram K Doraiswami and high officials of the government will also be present there.
The health secretary further said that the other 50 lakh purchased doses are expected to arrive here on 25 January.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said that a total of 35 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccine will arrive in the country from India on Thursday.
Besides, Bangladesh is purchasing 3 crore shots of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from India’s Serum Institute. Besides, India has gifted 20 lakh vaccine doses to Bangladesh.
Of the doses, 20 lakh are coming as gift from India while the rest 15 lakh as part of agreement signed with the Serum Institute of India, he said while speaking to reporters after attending a programme at the Foreign Service Academy.
The minister said the vaccination programme will begin after the arrival of the jab.
Mentioning that they are sure about getting the vaccine, he said the vaccination drive will continue.
Dr Momen said many other countries, including Russia and China, have expressed their eagerness to give vaccine to Bangladesh.
Besides, Bangladesh is purchasing 3 crore shots of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from India’s Serum Institute. Besides, India has gifted 20 lakh vaccine doses to Bangladesh.
A tripartite deal was signed by Bangladesh government with Beximco Pharmaceuticals and India’s Serum institute in this regard last November.
