Today Bangladesh is sending 600 crore taka to India to buy vaccines

News Desk: The Bangladesh government will deposit more than Tk 600 crore in the bank on Sunday to buy the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. In return, the best institute in India will give a bank guarantee.

The Department of Health says the Seram Institute, an Indian vaccine manufacturer, will take the money in advance and the rest will be paid once vaccination starts. According to the agreement, if they cannot vaccinate by next June, then Bangladesh will get the money back. News BBC Bangla.

If all goes well, Bangladesh will be able to bring the vaccine in the first week of February, said Professor Abul Basar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, director general of the health department. Last Saturday, the Indian government approved the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. So Bangladesh went one step further in getting the vaccine from that vaccine manufacturer in India.

Earlier, the government of Bangladesh signed an agreement with the Ministry of Health, Seram Institute, a vaccine manufacturer in India, and Beximco Pharmaceuticals in Bangladesh to buy the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. This work is in its continuity.

Professor Abul Basar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Director General of the Department of Health, said, "Any vaccine has two aspects - one is to bring it to the country and the other is to bring it to the consumer level." Cold chains need to be maintained for storage after vaccination. That is why the department has entered into an agreement with Beximco Pharmaceuticals.

Depots at the district level have the capacity to maintain cold chains; They (Beximco) will reach those places. 26,000 health assistants and assistant health inspectors will work across the country for vaccination. They will start training in a few days. '

The health DG said, "We have also been told to maintain the official procedures. We will do those. We will act in accordance with the law. The permission and approval of the drug administration is required, we will arrange it. '

Rabbur Reza, chief operating officer (CEO) of Beximco Pharmaceuticals, said the vaccines would be taken to two warehouses in their cold chain in Tongi after being brought from India. It will then be delivered to government approved warehouses. Beximco's responsibility will end with this delivery. After that the distribution process will start, which will be under government management.

According to the agreement, Seram Institute will provide three crore vaccines to Bangladesh within six months. And 50 lakh vaccines will come every month. A preliminary list of those who will be vaccinated on a priority basis has been made to the Department of Health.

In this regard, Health Minister Zahid Malek said in an exchange of views with journalists in Manikganj on Saturday, "Bangladesh will get corona vaccine in a short time at a lower price than many other countries due to quick decision. The Oxford vaccine will be available at a maximum cost of ৫ 5 (425 Bangladeshi rupees). The World Health Organization will soon approve the Oxford vaccine. The vaccine also has fewer side effects.

Orders for the vaccine have been confirmed for about 80 million people, the health minister said, adding that more orders would be placed in phases. The Oxford vaccine will be available in 30 million doses, with 5 million doses coming in the first shipment. And it will come this month. A committee headed by the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister is working on a list of who will be given the vaccine first. Even after vaccination, you have to follow the hygiene rules including wearing a mask. '

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