Vaccine Not Available Even after 1.5 Months of Registration

Coronavirus vaccination is being administrated on a small scale due to low stocks. As a result, even after a month and a half of registration, the message for vaccine does not come. The vaccine crisis is not over as there is less vaccine than required from the purchase agreement and COVAX assistance. Bangladesh will have to wait three months to get the vaccine under the production agreement.

Dr Mushtaq Hossain, a public health expert and adviser to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), told the media, “There is an overall risk of coronavirus infection in the country. There is a risk of human-to-human transmission. For this, it is necessary to follow the hygiene rules and ensure fast vaccination.”

Health Minister Zahid Maleque said, "We are not doing mass vaccination activities at the moment. Because we do not have that amount of vaccine. We will not use the word mass in the future. When we get the vaccine, we will call as many people as we can. Those to whom the message will send will come. '

After the cabinet meeting on Monday, he added, "We didn't have to ask for a long line when it came to vaccination." Whether it's the American vaccine or the Chinese vaccine, the vaccine works for everyone. So there is no need to rush and vaccinate. '

According to the Department of Health, the country has so far received 3 crore 17 lakh 25 thousand 160 doses of vaccine. Of this, 2 crore 37 lakh 4 thousand 837 doses have been given. At present there are 80 lakh 20 thousand 323 doses in stock. The first dose was given to 1 crore 89 lakh 48 thousand 622 people and the second dose was given to 67 lakh 56 thousand 215 people. They have been vaccinated with Oxford's AstraZeneca, China's Sinopharm, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

According to the information given by the Health Directorate on 23 August, 1 crore 10 lakh 37 thousand 487 doses of AstraZeneca have been given. Pfizer has been given 94,830 doses. Sinopharm has been given 97 lakh 31 thousand 352 doses. Moderna has been given 28 lakh 41 thousand 168 doses. 3 crore 57 lakh 16 thousand 384 people have registered. 1 crore 20 lakh 11 thousand 547 people are waiting to get vaccinated against coronavirus by registering.

The number of people waiting to register is increasing every day. About 7.5 million people were waiting for the August 5 vaccine. The number of people waiting for vaccination by registering till August 17 is 1 crore 82 lakh. Many who registered a month and a half ago have not yet received any message. Madhubag resident Laxman Prasad Roy and his wife Sushmita Sarkar registered for the vaccination on July 10 at the Magbazar Nagar Health Center. They did not receive any message from the vaccination center till yesterday.

Ishtiaq Hossain of Uttarakhan was registered at Kuwait Friendship Hospital on July 7. He said, “Even after a month and a half, there was no news of the vaccine. I went to the hospital to get vaccinated as there was no SMS. I hear country gets so many vaccines, but I don't get vaccination SMS.”

Omar Ali, a resident of Kathalbagan, has registered for vaccination at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University on July 20. "I did not receive any SMS from the hospital till yesterday," he said.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Additional Director (Hospital) Nazmul Karim Manik said, "The second dose of three types of vaccines is being administered at our hospital's vaccination center. There is some pressure as the first dose is running as well. Usually, an SMS is sent within two to three weeks of registration stating the date of vaccination.

To address the crisis, the country has signed an agreement with China to produce coronavirus vaccine. However, it will take three more months for the vaccine manufacturer Incepta Vaccine Limited to go into co-production.

At the signing ceremony, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said there was a need to prepare incepta for the production of Covid-19 vaccines. There are also various formalities to bring vaccine bulk from China. It may take up to three months, or more. Chinese Sinopharm will make the vaccine and give it to the bulk, then Incepta will finish their field. With this agreement, Incepta will make a coronavirus vaccine in a very short time.

One million doses of the Pfizer vaccine are coming from the United States on August 30 to reduce the crisis. The vaccine will arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a Qatar Airways flight at 7.15 pm that day. Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Maidul Islam confirmed the information.

On Monday, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said another 6 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine would be available from the United States by September. This 10 lakh dose is coming as part of that 60 lakh dose ticker. Health Minister Zahid Maleque said that another 5 million doses of Pfizer vaccine would reach the country by September.

According to the ministry, Health Minister Zahid Maleque, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and US Ambassador to Bangladesh R. Miller will be present at the airport.