Bangladesh, in principle, has agreed on a Chinese proposal to set up an "Emergency COVID-19 Vaccine Storage Facility" to ensure quick supply of vaccines among the South Asian countries during emergency. Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, which are not producing Covid vaccines, have also received a similar proposal from China and agreed on it. “We said we don’t have any objection. We, in principle, like it (the proposal). Any country might have an emergency need,” Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told reporters on Thursday. Also read: Nothing to worry about vaccine stock: FM Bangladesh received the proposal on April 15 and a minister-level meeting will be held on April 27, he said. The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh sought further details on the proposal, noting that there was a meeting at the secretary level in this regard. Dr Momen said a minister-level meeting will be held on April 27 to discuss the proposal in detail. Also read: Will do our best to support vaccine rollout in neighbouring countries: India Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Thursday said China has taken note of the “recent grave situation” in India with a temporary shortage of anti-epidemic medical supplies. “We stand ready to provide India with necessary support and assistance to get the epidemic under control,” he said. Dr Momen said China will give 6 lakh doses of vaccine as a gift and hoped that Bangladesh will get a vaccine through commercial purchase soon. Also read: Covid vaccines should be declared as global public goods: PM Hasina Bangladesh has received 7 million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine produced by Serum Institute of India (SII) through its contract. Bangladesh also received 3.3 million doses of vaccine as a bilateral partnership gift. This is the largest amount sent from India to any country.

The chain breaks here, in a tiny medical clinic in Burkina Faso that went nearly a year without a working refrigerator.