The government will distribute 30 million free vaccines in Oxford

News Desk: Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam has said that 30 million coxavirus vaccines made by Oxford will be distributed free of cost.

He made the remarks at a cabinet meeting briefing at the Secretariat on Monday (November 30). Earlier, a virtual cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina briefed the cabinet on the latest progress in tackling the Covid-19 second wave and procurement of vaccines.

From the edge of Ganobhaban, the Prime Minister and Ministers from the Cabinet Division of the Secretariat joined the meeting via video conference.

The Cabinet Secretary said, ‘A tripartite agreement has been signed between the Serum Institute of India, Beximco Pharma of Bangladesh and the Ministry of Health for the coronavirus vaccine made in Oxford. According to the agreement, the Serum Institute will supply 30 million doses of vaccine from Oxford to Bangladesh.

He said, "On October 14, the Prime Minister approved a proposal to sell 30 million doses of the vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India in Oxford to the Government of Bangladesh for the collection of Covid-19 vaccine." On November 5, a tripartite memorandum of understanding was signed between the Serum Institute and Beximco Pharmaceuticals with the Department of Health Services. Then on November 17, the finance department allocated Tk 635 crore 8 lakh 50 thousand to the health department for the purchase of vaccines. Will send a proposal to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Procurement to purchase the vaccine. The offer has come. '

Asked who will get the vaccine, the cabinet secretary said, "The World Health Organization has a guideline. They (Ministry of Health) are developing a program according to who will get the first, who will get the second step. '

"There is a protocol like frontline workers, police, administration people who are working in the field, then old people, children."

He added, "People will be given this vaccine free of cost. The government is paying the money. Three crore vaccines will be given free.

The cabinet secretary also said that action would be taken against anyone who committed irregularities in the distribution of vaccines.

Asked how much the government is buying the vaccine for, Khandaker Anwarul said, "It cannot be said until there is a purchase agreement."

Regarding the latest status of other vaccines, he said, "Many more vaccines have been introduced. The health ministry said it was in touch. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. Our number one condition is to follow the protocol of the World Health Organization. '

Asked at what stage the Chinese company Synovac's ticker trial was supposed to take place, the cabinet secretary said, "We have not rejected it. They want some money. The government has not yet agreed or agreed. We haven't canceled that yet. At first he didn't want money, later he wanted money. '