Bangladesh Signs Agreement for Sinopharm Vaccine

Bangladesh Government has signed an agreement to procure Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine from China.

"The recent price of vaccines has raised some concerns. We must rigorously adhere to non-disclosure agreements," In a program at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases today, Health Minister Zahid Maleque remarked.

The minister, however, did not provide the date of the agreement or the cost of the dosages.

Earlier on 27 May, the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase had already authorized a request to purchase 1.5 crore doses of Sinopharm's covid-19 vaccine.

Following the discussion, a Cabinet Division official told reporters at a press conference that the vaccine will be purchased for $10 per dose.

After the story leaked in Bangladeshi media, Sri Lanka was the first country to speak up, stating that it must pay $15 per dose for the same vaccination.

China has already sent Bangladesh a diplomatic letter inquiring why the price was divulged when Bangladesh had been warned that revealing prices would result in commercial losses. It claims that its fears have come true, citing the fact that several countries have opposed to the vaccine prices.