Sinopharm Vaccine
Vaccination drive in Bangladesh: Procurement of 60 mln Sinopharm doses gets nod
The Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase on Wednesday approved a proposal of the Health Service Division to procure 60 million doses of Chinese Sinopharm vaccine as the government is trying to gear up its nationwide vaccination drive.
According to officials, the vaccine doses will arrive in the country by November this year.
Read: Pragmatic talks underway over vaccine procurement
But the price of the vaccine doses was not disclosed as there is a non-disclosure agreement with China in this regard, they said.
“We hope the vaccine doses will reach the country by November this year. Since we’ve a non-disclosure agreement, we can’t disclose the price,” Shamsul Arefin, additional secretary of the Cabinet Division, told reporters while briefing them on the issue.
The virtual meeting, chaired by Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, also approved nine other procurement proposals of different ministries.
The finance minister said, “We’ve calculated that we need to vaccinate some 13.82 crore people. So, we have to buy 27.65 crore vaccine doses. We’ve 2.55 crore vaccine doses in our hands and the remaining amounts need to be collected.”
Earlier, Bangladesh purchased 15 million doses of Sinopharm Covid vaccine from China at a rate lower than what was set in an earlier deal.
Read: Govt. mishandled procurement of Covid-19 vaccine, allege BNP
Bangladesh earlier received two million doses of vaccine as a gift from China.
On May 27 this year, the same committee approved the procurement of the same Chinese jabs at $10 per dose.
China was then upset by the disclosure of the price saying it was a breach of a non-disclosure clause agreed by the two governments.
Chattogram receives 2.6 lakh jabs ahead of vaccination push
Chattogram has received another 2,66,400 doses of covid vaccine on Friday morning as the nationwide vaccination drive is set to get a push on Saturday.
Of the 2,66,400 doses of vaccine received here, 38,400 doses are of Moderna, USA, 1,20,000 are of China’s Sinopharm and 1,80,000 are of Oxford-AstraZeneca.
Civil Surgeon of the district Dr Sheikh Fazle Rabbi along with the local vaccine committee members received the vaccine doses around 7am.
Read: People find 'easy excuses' to defy lockdown in Dhaka
The civil surgeon said the vaccine doses were stored in the central cold storage of the civil surgeon's office. These doses will be supplied to vaccination centres as per their demand.
Among the vaccine doses, AstraZeneca jabs are for the second dose, Moderna for the ward-based mass vaccination programme and Sinopharm for the union level in upazilas, said Dr Rabbi.
Some 4,53,760 people in Chattogram took the first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. As many as 1,05,425 people who took the first dose have been waiting for their second doses as many have already passed four months since taking the first doses.
Read: Covid kills 218 more in Bangladesh as its catastrophe continues
Earlier, Chattogram received 1,84,000 doses of Sinopharm and Moderna vaccine on July 11 and 1,85,000 doses on July 28.
During the last week, Bangladesh administered around 307,614 doses on average a day. At that pace, it will take 107 more days to administer enough doses for another 10% of the population here.
So far, since the inauguration of mass inoculation in Bangladesh on February 7 this year, some 4,416,131 people have fully been vaccinated with two shots while 10,009,953 have received the first doses, says the DG of the DGHS.
Bangladesh to receive 34 lakh Sinopharm vaccine doses next week: FM
Bangladesh will receive another consignment of 34 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine next week while 60 lakh doses of Pfizer vaccine in the first week of September, said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday.
Apart from that, Bangladesh will also receive 10 lakh doses of AstraZeneca vaccine soon which is likely to come under the COVAX facility, he said.
“We’ve lined up well. We think we’re on the right track,” he told reporters at State guesthouse Padma after attending a function there.
Referring to the Health Ministry, Dr Momen said Bangladesh has a stock of 1.23 crore vaccine doses and some of the doses (AstraZeneca) will be kept for the second dose.
Read: No movement without vaccine will be allowed after Aug. 11: Minister
On coproduction of vaccine, he said the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on coproduction of Sinopharm vaccine in Bangladesh will be signed at any moment.
The Law Ministry has already cleared it after vetting and it will be signed at any moment, said the Foreign Minister adding that “Everything is final.”
Dr Momen said the coproduction of vaccine doses in Bangladesh is essential. “I want the start of coproduction.”
Earlier, he said the MoU is with the Health Ministry and the Health Ministry should dispose of it very quickly.
Read: Vaccine coproduction deal with Sinopharm ready for signing: FM
Dr Momen said the government of Bangladesh, Sinopharm and a local company (Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd) will sign the agreement.
Incepta will bring in bulk and bottling, labeling and finishing of the vaccine will be done locally making the price relatively very cheap.
Asked whether there is any shift from the government plan to vaccinate 1 crore people each week, Dr Momen said it is their target as per the Health Ministry and hoped to vaccinate 8 crore people within two months.
Vaccine coproduction deal with Sinopharm ready for signing: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on coproduction of Sinopharm vaccine in Bangladesh is ready for signing and it should be done without any delay.
“We’ve received it (MoU) and it’s with the Health Ministry. It should be done at any moment. I think the Health Ministry should dispose of it very quickly,” he told reporters.
Dr Momen said the government of Bangladesh, Sinopharm and a local company (Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd) will sign the agreement.
Also read: No Covid vaccine crisis in the country, says Quader
He said Incepta will bring in bulk and bottling, labeling and finishing of the vaccine will be done locally making the price relatively very cheap.
Bangladesh receives 30 lakh Sinopharm vaccine jabs
Bangladesh received 30 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine on Thursday night and early Friday as part of commercial purchase from China.
One of the three aircraft of Biman Bangladesh Airlines landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:20pm on Thursday.
Read: Bangladesh receives 10 lakh Sinopharm vaccine jabs
Two more aircraft landed at 1:14am and 5.37am on Friday, each carrying 10 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine, Tahera Khondoker, Deputy General Manager (PR) at Biman Bangladesh Airlines, told UNB.
Earlier, Bangladesh received 20 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine on July 17 and July 18.
Bangladesh receives 10 lakh Sinopharm vaccine jabs
Bangladesh on Thursday night received 10 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine as part of commercial purchase from China while 20 lakh more are scheduled to arrive by early Friday.
An aircraft of Bangladesh Biman Airlines landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport carrying 10 lakh doses of Sinopharma vaccine from China around 10:30pm, Dr Shahriar Sazzad, in-charge of the airport health centre, told UNB.
Read: Covid-19: Bangladesh lowers vaccination age to 25
Thirty lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine from China are supposed to reach Bangladesh on Thursday night and early Friday, sources at the health ministry said.
The vaccine consignments were scheduled to arrive at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in three flights at 10pm, 1am and 3 am, the sources added.
Read: Covid in Bangladesh: Daily toll remains above 200; 15,271 more infected
Earlier, Bangladesh received 20 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine jabs on July 17 and July 18.
The vaccine doses were provided as part of a commercial agreement with China.
30 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine to reach Dhaka Thursday night, Friday
Thirty lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine from China will reach Bangladesh on Thursday night and early Friday, health ministry sources said.
The consignment of vaccines will arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in three flights at 10pm, 1am and 3 am, added the sources.
Read: Covid-19: Bangladesh lowers vaccination age to 25
Earlier, some 20 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine reached Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in two aircrafts on July 17 and early July 18.
The vaccines were provided as part of a commercial agreement with China.
Read: Covid in Bangladesh: Daily toll remains above 200; 15,271 more infected
Dhaka to receive 30 lakh more Sinopharm jabs this month, says health minister
Bangladesh will get 30 lakh more doses of Sinopharm vaccine from China this month, Health and Family Planning Minister Zahid Maleque said on Saturday.
The jabs are expected to arrive in Dhaka either on July 26 or 27, he told a meeting in Dhaka.
Read: 20 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine to reach Dhaka tonight
The meeting with the member hospitals and organizations of Bangladesh Private Medical College Association was held to discuss Covid-19 prevention, oxygen crisis, increasing hospital facilities and beds.
“We are trying to bring everyone under the Covid-19 vaccination campaign. Already enough number of Covid-19 jabs has been received and more 30 lakh doses of Sinopharm will arrive,” he said.
Maleque said 21 crore doses of vaccine have already been arranged from different sources. If these are available on time Bangladesh will be able to vaccinate 80% of its population, he said.
The minister said 26 cold freezers are being brought from The World Health Organization (WHO) for vaccines that need to be stored in minus 70 degree Celsius.
Read: Govt to purchase 15 mn Sinopharm vaccine doses at lower rate
The government has directed to prioritize elders in rural areas in vaccination drives and to bring teachers, students and their family members above 18 years under the campaign, said Maleque.
20 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine to reach Dhaka tonight
Some 20 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine is expected to reach Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in two aircraft on Saturday night and early Sunday.
Of the total vaccine, 10 lakh doses will reach around 11 pm while the remaining 10 lakh around 3 am Sunday, said a handout of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry.
Bangladesh will receive 20 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine from China as part of the commercial agreement, said Deputy Chief of Mission at Chinese Embassy in Dhaka Hualong Yan on Friday.
READ: Govt to purchase 15 mn Sinopharm vaccine doses at lower rate
Talking to UNB, Hualong said China will also provide 10 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine in addition to the 11 lakh doses already received as a gift from it.
"This is a gift for our Bangladeshi brothers and sisters in their fight against the pandemic," Hualong Yan said.
Bangladesh has already received 20 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine as part of commercial purchase from China.
Bangladesh will receive initially 1.5 crore doses of vaccine as part of a commercial purchase agreement.
Hualong said China stands ready to provide support and assistance to help with Bangladesh government's poverty alleviation through the China-South Asian Countries Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Center.
READ: Covid vaccine supply: Gavi signs deals with Sinopharm, Sinovac for COVAX
Earlier, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China will continue to provide Bangladesh with the Covid vaccines to help it fight the epidemic.
He also said China is willing to work with Bangladesh to maintain the momentum of the development of the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
The Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister met Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momon in Tashkent and discussed the issues on the sidelines of the International Conference on “Central and South Asia: Regional connectivity - Challenges and opportunities” on Thursday.
READ: Mass inoculation to restart Monday with Sinopharm, Tuesday with Moderna: DGHS
Wang Yi said that China and Bangladesh are good neighbours and friends and the two sides always adhere to equal treatment and mutual respect, continue to deepen friendly cooperation, and actively jointly build the "Belt and Road".
Bangladesh to receive 20 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine Saturday
Bangladesh will receive 20 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine from China on Saturday night as part of the commercial agreement as the country has accelerated its vaccination drive.
Deputy Chief of Mission at Chinese Embassy in Dhaka Hualong Yan on Friday told UNB that the vaccine doses will arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in two aircraft.
He said China will also provide 10 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine in addition to the 11 lakh doses already received as a gift from it.
"This is a gift for our Bangladeshi brothers and sisters in their fight against the pandemic," Hualong Yan said.
Read: China to continue providing vaccine aid to Bangladesh: Wang Yi
Bangladesh has already received 20 lakh doses of Sinopharm vaccine as part of commercial purchase from China.
Bangladesh will receive initially 1.5 crore doses of vaccine as part of a commercial purchase agreement.
Hualong said China stands ready to provide support and assistance to help with Bangladesh government's poverty alleviation through the China-South Asian Countries Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Center.
Earlier, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China will continue to provide Bangladesh with the Covid vaccines to help Bangladesh fight the epidemic.
Read: Covid-19: Government orders 66 crore vaccine doses worth RS 14,505 crore
He also said China is willing to work with Bangladesh to maintain the momentum of the development of the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
The Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister met Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momon in Tashkent and discussed the issues on the sidelines of the International Conference on “Central and South Asia: Regional connectivity - Challenges and opportunities” on Thursday.
Wang Yi said that China and Bangladesh are good neighbours and friends and the two sides always adhere to equal treatment and mutual respect, continue to deepen friendly cooperation, and actively jointly build the "Belt and Road".