Bangladesh may run out of vaccines by May 15

The Covid-19 Vaccine Preparedness and Deployment Core Committee, which held a virtual meeting,  said the fast depleting vaccine stock with the country would be exhausted by May 15, Prothom Alo reported.

A panel member said the health ministry hasn’t been clarifying as yet whether vaccines will arrive from India before the stock runs out or how many vaccines will arrive.

A senior ministry official said the health minister has given instructions for the import of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine by making changes to the vaccine import policy in view of the emergency situation.

With Serum Institute of India unable to keep its earlier promise to supply a huge stock of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, there is uncertainty over large number of people getting the second jab after having received the first dose earlier.

Bangladesh has received 1.3 billion shos from India, and at present there is a stock of 2.55 million, the report said.

According to the Health Service Division, the government has a plan to vaccinate 80 per cent of population, for which it needs 130 million doses.

It has already purchased 15 million doses from  Serum Institute of India in the first phase, while  COVAX - the global initiative for Covid-19 vaccines -  would provide another 34 million.

With the numbers falling short,  the health ministry was keen on a quick decision regarding import of any particular vaccine within the shortest possible time.