ZCZC
BSS-40
COVID-19-VACCINE-MOU
Tripartite MoU signed for collecting 3 cr COVID-19 vaccine doses
DHAKA, Nov 5, 2020 (BSS) – A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed today for collecting three crore COVID-19 vaccine doses from the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, which are at the final stage to develop vaccine against the deadly virus.
The MoU was signed among the Bangladesh Government, Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd (BPL) and the Serum Institute of India (SII) at a function in the conference room of the health ministry here, an official release said.
Additional Secretary of Health Service Division Md Mostofa Kamal signed the agreement from the Bangladesh government side, it added.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami, Managing Director of Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd (BPL) Nazmul Hasan Papon, MP, Secretary of Health Service Division Md Abdul Mannan, Secretary of Health Education Division Md Ali Noor, Swandip Mule of the Serum Institute of India and senior officials and representatives of relevant organizations, among others, were present at the MoU signing function.
Speaking on the occasion, Maleque said people in the country are eagerly waiting for safe and effective vaccine to get remedy from COVID-19 pandemic.
“I hope people in the country will get relief through this landmark agreement…under the MoU, Bangladesh will collect three crore vaccines in the first phase,” he added.
As part of intensive efforts of the government, Bangladesh has made a good progress in the process of importing the most essential drug against the killer disease, the minister added.
“Initially, these three crore vaccine doses will be administered to 1.5 crore people… as each person needs to be vaccinated twice,” he said, adding 50 lakh people in the country will be administered per month.
Maleque said Bangladesh is keeping close contact with those companies, which are at final stage of COVID-19 vaccine development.
Many countries are working frantically for COVID-19 vaccine development campaign… But nine companies are at final stage in the race of vaccine development. We are keeping constant communication with five companies to get effective vaccines at the quickest possible time,” he added.
BSS/PR/MMR/ARS/1854 hrs