COVAX facility
FM reassures on adequate vaccine supply from multiple sources
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday indicated that Bangladesh will soon receive huge vaccine doses from a number of sources, including the ones that will come under the COVAX facility.
Bangladesh Mission in Geneva has conveyed that Bangladesh will receive 3 million doses of Moderna vaccine under the COVAX facility, Dr Momen said, adding that the shipment is ready.
Read:Covid vaccine supply: Gavi signs deals with Sinopharm, Sinovac for COVAX
Bangladesh has already received 2.5 million Moderna vaccine doses under the COVAX facility, said the Foreign Minister.
Dr Momen said Bangladesh will receive 2.9 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses from Japan instead of 2.5 million. “This shipment will come under the COVAX facility.”
The Foreign Minister said he will have a meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Tashkent on July 15 as China will give 1 million more doses of Sinopharm vaccine as a gift to Bangladesh. Bangladesh has already received 11 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine from China as a gift.
Dr Momen said Bangladesh will receive 1 million doses of vaccine from the European Union. In August, Bangladesh will receive 6 lakh 20 thousand doses of vaccine under the COVAX facility.
Read: 1.84 lakh doses of Moderna, Sinopharm vaccines reach Chattogram
'It's just the beginning': US ambassador on Moderna shipment's arrival
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R. Miller has said the arrival of 2.5 million doses of the US biotech firm Moderna's highly successful vaccine for Covid-19 through the COVAX facility is only the beginning.
"The United States understands the urgency of getting as many safe and effective vaccines to Bangladesh as quickly as possible," he said while addressing a reception at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Friday night.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen received the first consignment of 2.5 million doses of Moderna vaccine under the COVAX framework.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Secretary of Health Services Division Lokman Hossain Miah, and other high officials of Bangladesh government were also present.
READ:Bangladesh receives 1st consignment of 2.5 million Moderna vaccine doses
The second consignment arrived on Saturday morning.
Ambassador Miller said the United States has been Bangladesh’s closest partner for the past five decades working to improve public health.
"Today, at this uniquely challenging moment in history, our partnership is more important than ever," he said.
Miller said he is proud to join with partners and leaders from the Government of Bangladesh to continue to work together to build a world safer and more secure against the threat of infectious disease.
READ:Bangladesh receives 1st consignment of 2mn doses of Sinopharm vaccine
"We do so for the people of Bangladesh, the people of America, for all people on this precious vulnerable world we are privileged and responsible to share and protect," said the US Ambassador.
Bangladesh to receive 45 lakh vaccine doses from COVAX, China within 2 days: Minister
Bangladesh will receive 45 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccine from COVAX facility and China within the next couple of days.
Twenty-five lakh doses of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine under COVAX facility will arrive in Dhaka on Friday and Saturday in two separate consignments.
On the other hand, Bangladesh will receive two consignments of commercially purchased Sinopharm vaccine doses -- 11 lakh and 9 lakh -- in the next two days.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque shared the updates in a video message on Thursday.
Read: 80pc people to be vaccinated by March: Zahid Maleque
“Around 12 lakh vaccine doses will reach Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 11:20 pm on Friday and the rest on Saturday,” said the minister.
The minister will be present at the airport on Friday.
Earlier, Deputy Chief of Mission at Chinese Embassy in Dhaka Hualong Yan said the first consignment of 2 million doses of vaccine as part of Bangladesh government's commercial purchase from China's Sinopharm are ready for delivery in Beijing.
Bangladesh to receive 2.5mn Moderna jabs from COVAX July 2-3: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said Bangladesh will receive 2.5 million doses of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine under the COVAX facility in two consignments on July 2 and July 3 respectively.
The Foreign Minister also said the first consignment of 2 million doses of Sinopharm vaccine will arrive soon.
“I think complexities over vaccine supply are eased,” he told reporters at Foreign Service Academy after a programme.
Dr Momen said huge money has been allocated and there is nothing to be worried about vaccine purchase. “We shouldn’t have faced any problem.”
Earlier, Deputy Chief of Mission at Chinese Embassy in Dhaka Hualong Yan said the first consignment of 2 million doses of vaccine as part of Bangladesh government's commercial purchase from China's Sinopharm are ready for delivery in Beijing.
READ: Individuals having appointments to be allowed to go to foreign missions during lockdown: FM
"China stands by our Bangladeshi friends in fighting the new wave of the pandemic," he said.
Bangladesh is likely to get 1.5 crore of Sinopharm vaccine doses from China while China says it is ready to supply more, if needed.
Earlier, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller tweeted saying Bangladesh will soon receive a gift of 2.5 million doses of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine from the American people via GAVI.
"As the largest contributor to COVAX, the U.S. is committed to increasing the country’s vaccine supply to beat the pandemic here and worldwide." Ambassador Miller said.
Bangladesh entered into a deal with the Serum Institute of India (SII) to purchase 30 million doses of a potential vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca for Covid-19.
Bangladesh was supposed to get five million doses of vaccine per month as the SII and Bangladesh’s Beximco Pharma signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for priority delivery of the vaccine doses.
Bangladesh has so far received only 7 million of Oxford-AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine doses produced by Serum Institute of India (SII) through its contract. Bangladesh also received 3.3 million doses of vaccine as a bilateral partnership gift.
Regarding the national budget he said, an “optimistic budget” has been passed despite bad days due to Covid-19 situation with an expansion of the social safety net. “It has been proved again that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is a friend of the poor.”
Responding to a question on use of Myanmar’s SIM cards in Rohingya camps, Dr Momen said the government stopped 4G services in the camps to stop criminal activities and trafficking in person.
He, however, said they reintroduced it amid desperate efforts from the UNHCR and rights bodies.
The Foreign Minister said the government has had no direct communication with the Myanmar government since the military took over power there. “We’re observing the situation.”
READ: S Asian nations should receive vaccines without any strings attached: FM
Earlier, Dr Momen along with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam spoke at the function marking the launching of Foreign Service Debating Club. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen was also present.
COVAX Facility: Japan to provide 30mn vaccine doses to other countries
Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide has expressed his country’s intention to provide around 30 million vaccine doses manufactured in Japan to other countries and regions, including through the COVAX Facility.
Prime Minister Suga who co-chaired the COVAX AMC (Advance Market Commitment) Summit virtually with Gavi Board Chair José Manuel Barroso on Wednesday said Japan will provide the vaccine doses at an appropriate time when the circumstances allow.
Read: UK recognises Bangladesh's Dr Jara as 'Vaccine Luminary'
The Japanese Prime Minister explained that Japan has always supported the efforts by the COVAX Facility, including through its financial contribution, amounting to US$ 200 million and announced Japan’s additional contribution of US$ 800 million.
In this context, as one of the largest contributors to the COVAX Facility, Japan welcomed the arrival of 106,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine to Bangladesh on May 31, which was made possible through the COVAX AMC.
Read:1 lakh-plus Pfizer vaccine doses reach Dhaka
Japan will continue to cooperate with Bangladesh to suppress the spread of the Covid-19 and overcome this unprecedented crisis, said the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka.
The Summit, held on Wednesday, was organised to raise additional funds to secure necessary vaccines for developing countries by the end of 2021, in order to ensure through the COVAX Facility equitable access to safe, effective and quality-assured vaccines thereby overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read: Bangladesh approves emergency use of Pfizer vaccine
Participants in the Summit include leaders and ministers from about 40 countries, including Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States of America, as well as António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General and other heads of international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and representatives from the civil society and the private companies such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Prime Minister Suga called for further solidarity and commitments from the international community in the fight against Covid-19, and expressed Japan’s full support for ensuring equitable access to safe and effective vaccines for as many people as possible with a view to achieving Universal Health Coverage guided by the principle of human security.
Indonesia suspends AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine batch after death
The Indonesian government said Sunday (May 16, 2021) it has suspended the distribution and use of a batch of AstraZeneca Plc's coronavirus vaccine following the death of a 22-year-old man a day after his inoculation with the vaccine.
The Ministry of Health called the suspension "a prudent effort by the government to ensure the safety of the vaccine," and said it plans to continue to use other batches of the vaccine it has received.
Also read: Denmark stops AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine rollout
The results of sterility and toxicity tests by the Drug and Food Monitoring Agency are expected to come out within one to two weeks.
The batch in question, consisting of about 450,000 doses, arrived last month. It is part of the 3,852,000 AstraZeneca doses that Indonesia has received through the World Health Organization-backed COVAX facility.
Also read: Governments give varying advice on AstraZeneca vaccine
COVAX is an international vaccine distribution platform set up to ensure equitable access to shots for developing countries.
Local media reported that the man received a jab from the batch in the capital Jakarta on May 5 and died the next day. The batch had been distributed to Jakarta and North Sulawesi Province in central Indonesia, as well as to the military, according to the ministry.
Also read: EU agency: Rare clots possibly linked to AstraZeneca shot
Indonesia has fully inoculated almost 9 million of its 187 million eligible citizens under a nationwide vaccination drive that started in mid-January.
WHO recommends use of AstraZeneca Covid vaccine
Independent experts advising the World Health Organization on Wednesday recommended the use of AstraZeneca’s vaccine even in countries that turned up worrying coronavirus variants in their populations.
WHO's Covax facility, procurement from SII to cover initial vaccine needs: Maleque
Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque on Sunday said the Coronavirus vaccine will reach the country in the middle of February and the government is prepared for vaccine distribution among people.
UNICEF launches COVID-19 vaccine market dashboard to ensure fair access
The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) announced the launch of a COVID-19 vaccine market dashboard, an interactive tool to follow the developments of the rapidly evolving COVID-19 vaccine market and the efforts of the COVAX Facility to ensure fair and equitable access for every country in the world.
Covid Vaccine: UNICEF to stockpile 520 mn syringes by year-end
The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has begun laying the groundwork for Covid-19 vaccination by purchasing and pre-positioning syringes and other necessary equipment, reports Xinhua.