2m gift vaccine set to arrive tomorrow

The consignment of Oxford-AstraZeneca-produced 20 lakh vaccine doses given to Bangladesh as a gift is scheduled to reach the country tomorrow (Wednesday). the vaccine doses, gifts of the Indian government are coming before the vaccine came commercially.

Monday (January 18) night, Prof. Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, the Director-General of the Department of Health, confirmed the matter to a newsmedia.

"The Indian government is giving 20 lakh vaccines as a gift and I have received a letter from the upper echelons of the government stating that the consignment will arrive in the country on January 20," he said.

Beximco Pharma is importing the vaccine commercially. Their consignment is scheduled to reach the country on January 26. Speaking at the 'Meet the Press' event at Dhaka Reporters' Unity on Monday morning, Health Minister Zahid Malek said the first shipment of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine made by Serum would arrive by January 26.

This vaccine will not be given to anyone under 18 years of age. A list of those who will be vaccinated has already been made. One needs to get the vaccine by writing the name in the specially made software.

The government will bear the expenses for treatment if anyone face any side effect after taking Covid-19 vaccine, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque.

"We will get 50 lakh doses of the vaccine. Besides, the Indian government will send some Covid vaccines to Bangladesh as a gift," the minister made the remark in the briefing at Dhaka Reporters' Unity in the capital.

He also mentioned that 42,000 health workers are being made ready for the vaccination program. People will be vaccinated at 300 centers in Dhaka.

"The vaccine will be given in hospitals and diagnostic centers as patients might face side effects. The government will bear the expense for treatment," the minister added.