3 Crore Vaccine Doses to Be Given Free: Cabinet Secy

The government will initially provide three crore free doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to the citizens of the country selecting the recipients following the protocol of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The government will procure the three crore doses of Oxford-AtraZeneca vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII).

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam on Monday revealed the government decision at a press briefing after the Cabinet meeting held at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting, joining it virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.

''The vaccines, being procured, to be provided at free of cost,'' said the Cabinet Secretary adding that a program is being developed to select the priority recipients of the vaccines following the WHO protocol.

He said the government on November 5 last signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Serum Institute of India (SII) and Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd to collect the three crore doses of the Oxford-AtraZeneca SARS-CoV-B2, AZD1222 vaccine.

The Finance Ministry on November 16 initially allocated some Tk 735.77 crore against the Health Service Division to procure the COVID-19 vaccine. ''The draft of a tripartite procurement agreement has already been prepared,'' he said.