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BSS-38
COVID-19-VACCINE-AGREEMENT LEAD
Agreement signed for collecting 3 cr COVID-19 vaccine doses
DHAKA, Dec 13, 2020 (BSS) – An agreement was signed today for collecting
three crore COVID-19 vaccine doses developed by the University of Oxford and
AstraZeneca, which are at the final stage to produce vaccine against the
deadly coronavirus.
Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Dr
Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam signed the agreement on behalf of
Bangladesh government while Managing Director of Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Nazmul Hasan Papon, MP, signed it on behalf of Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd,
an official release said.
The agreement signing function was held in the conference room of
Directorate General of Health Services at Mohakhali in the city.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque, senior officials of the
health ministry, physicians and representatives of Beximco Pharmaceuticals
Ltd, among others, were present at the agreement signing ceremony.
The agreement signing paper was sent to the Serum Institute of India (SII)
today. The authorities of the Serum Institute of India would sign the
agreement and they will send it to Bangladesh by December 15.
Under the agreement, Bangladesh government will get three crore COVID-19
vaccine doses from the Serum Institute of India. Bangladesh would get 50 lakh
vaccines per month from the institute.
At the agreement signing ceremony, Maleque said efficacy and safety of
COVID-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca has
been proved in clinical trials, conducted in different countries.
“The vaccine of the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca is suitable for
our weather condition….we will collect three crore vaccine in phases,” he
said, adding the government is contacting with other companies, which are at
final stage for COVID-19 vaccine development.
On November 5, a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed
for collecting three crore COVID-19 vaccine doses from the University of
Oxford and AstraZeneca. The MoU was signed among the Bangladesh Government,
Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd (BPL) and the Serum Institute of India (SII).
The health ministry sources said 1.5 crore people will be administered by
these three crore vaccine doses. As each person needs to be vaccinated twice
they said, adding 50 lakh people in the country will be administered per
month.
Later, the minister attended the cover unveiling function of the national
guideline on COVID-19 in a city hotel.
At the function, he said COVID-19 situation in Bangladesh has remained in
better position compared to many countries in the world as the government led
by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is sincerely dealing with the pandemic.
“When almost the entire world is struggling to control coronavirus
situation, Bangladesh has been able to contain the outbreak of the deadly
virus,” Maleque said.
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/1925 hrs