Reza Mahmud :
Covid-19 vaccination for about 13 crore of country’s approximately 18 crore people becomes uncertain as the government has ensured only 1.5 crore people’s jab and the donors may provide about 20 per cent of total population’s vaccine.
Bangladesh has signed a procurement agreement with India’s serum institute to buy three crore doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca invented Covid-19 vaccines.
This three crore vaccine will be provided free of cost to 1.5 crore front line workers including doctors, nurses, other health workers, police, administrative officials and journalists.
Besides, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI) will provide 20 per cent of country’s total about 18 crore population’s Covid-19 jab which will cover about 3.6 crore people’s vaccination.
With the government provided 1.5 and Gavi’s donation for 3.6 crore people’s vaccination will cover total about five crore people’s jab demands. The vaccines for the rest 13 crore of the country’s populations still remain uncertain.
In these circumstances, the human health experts are worried about the country’s vaccination programme of Covid-19. When contacted Health Secretary Md. Abdul Mannan told The New Nation, “We have signed contact with India’s Serum institute which is preparing Oxford university invented covid vaccine to provide us three crore of jab. This amount will cover about 1.50 crore of our people.”
He said, besides, the Gavi alliance will provide vaccines for 20 per cent of our total populations.
Replying to a query, the Health Secretary said Serum promised Oxford’s vaccine may take six months to delivery.
Besides, the GAVI’s vaccines also may take time.
“In this circumstance, the Covid vaccines of different countries and companies will be available in world markets, and the government will buy the necessary jabs for the rest of our populations,” the Secretary said.
On the other hand, USA based Cable News Network (CNN) published a report in this regard recently where it said that the rich countries are buying and booking madly, so that it will be impossible to get a chance to buy jabs from markets for the poorer countries.
When contacted, Professor Dr. Nazrul Islam, former Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University told The New Nation, “Some of the rich countries have started competitions to collect covid vaccine which makes difficult for the under developed or less developed countries to access its market.”
He said, “In this circumstance, before getting available effective vaccines, the government and everyone should increase awareness with following the health safety rules including wearing face masks.”
When contacted Professor Dr. Muzaherul Huq, former Advisor of World Health Organisaiton (WHO) told The New Nation, “It was earlier thought that getting Covid-19 vaccine will be a difficult task. Now has been proved.”
In these circumstances, he suggested the government for strengthening its efforts to buy reliable vaccines from producers directly.
