Our Vaccine Buying Process Is Very Transparent: Health Min

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has done a very intransparent (opaque) job and the Ministry of Health has rejected their report as it was intentional. Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque said this at a briefing at the Secretariat on Monday (April 25).

"We didn’t accept it," he said. ... "and our work on vaccines is very transparent."

"The price that has been mentioned does not apply to us," he said. I don't know where the people who gave the information came from. Because the record of how much we bought the vaccine is not in the record. So if someone gives wrong information we can't accept it.

The minister said, "I saw the information in a newspaper that Bangladesh bought the vaccine for tk 3,500 and at the highest price. But, the reality is Bangladesh bought the vaccine with the least money. If you count free vaccinations, add that money (money to buy vaccines), then I think Bangladesh has vaccinated its people with the least amount of money in the world."

He said Bangladesh has received more than 90 million vaccines for free. Bangladesh has received the freest vaccines in the world. The most expensive vaccines Moderna, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca received for free. Bangladesh has done better than many other countries in terms of vaccination activities. So far we have vaccinated about 13 crore first dose. I have given 11 crore 60 lakh second dose. Booster dose 1 crore 21 lakh.

"People are not following the rules of hygiene now," said Zahid Malek. "We saw the first, second, and third waves. But no one can swear that the fourth wave will not come. The fourth wave of Coronavirus could come at any time. So we have to be careful."

Md. Lokman Hossain Mia, Senior Secretary, Health Services Division was present during the briefing.