Bangladesh not getting vaccine from India despite paying beforehand
Despite making full payment of the prices, Bangladesh is not receiving coronavirus vaccine from Serum Institute of India (SII).
The Bangladesh government signed an agreement with the SII on November 5 this past year to procure 3 crore (30 million) doses of Oxford-Astrazeneca's COVID-19 vaccine beneath the mediation of Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd. The agreement states that the SII will export 3 crore (30 million) doses of Covishield vaccine to Bangladesh.
According to a clause of the agreement, Bangladesh is meant to get 50 lakh (5 million) doses of vaccine every month. But, the country has not been receiving the vaccine from SII as stated in the agreement though the Indian company realised Tk 510 crore from the Bangladesh government beforehand as the cost of 1.5 crore (15 million) doses of Covishield vaccine.
No consignment of vaccine was exported by the SII within the last two months to Bangladesh. None can say evidently when the consignment of vaccine will arrive from the business. Following agreement, Bangladesh has so far received 70 lakh (7million) doses of vaccine in two consignments in the months of January and February respectively.
Besides, the Indian government provided 33 lakh (3.3 million) doses of vaccine as gift idea to Bangladesh. So, Bangladesh has up to now received 1.03 crore (10.03 million) doses of COVID-19 vaccine from India as purchase and gift.
But, Bangladesh now requires some 10 lakh doses of vaccine to complete its second doses for many who have obtained the first dose of vaccine so far in the country. Those who have received the first dose of vaccine, they now face great uncertainty over the acquiring the next doses of vaccine.
The first dose of COVID-19 vaccination was formally kicked off on February 7 last and the next dose of vaccination started out on April 8. The Bangladesh government signed the agreement to procure 3 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine from SII of India through a local pharmaceutical company.
The Health Ministry sources said the neighborhood pharmaceutical company contacted with SII seeking remaining vaccine. In reply, the SII said, "We're ready to export vaccine to Bangladesh. But, it now will depend on the Indian government. Our vaccines are prepared. We are able to dispatch the vaccine if we receive clearance from the ministry concerned."
The Bangladesh government is currently exploring different sources to get vaccine. An agreement with Russia is currently at your final stage. The Sputnik-V vaccine made by Russia has been proved very effective against coronavirus. An area consortium is attempting to import this vaccine to Bangladesh.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Thursday said Russia wouldn't normally give its technology to any other country. It could provide its technology to a pharmaceutical company in Bangladesh only. China has formed a six-country vaccine alliance which include Bangladesh. China has also proposed to supply 6 lakh doses of vaccine as gift. Besides, Beijing has expressed its willingness to supply vaccine to Bangladesh. An American company in addition has decided to export vaccine to Bangladesh.
Beximco Pharmaceutical Limited's managing director Nazmul Hasan Papon said India's SII is ready to export 50 lakh doses of vaccine to Bangladesh. The business has also sought clearance from the Indian ministry concerned to export the vaccine, nonetheless they are yet to get the clearance. The SII can export the vaccine to Bangladesh once it receives clearance from the ministry concerned. There could be a problem of getting vaccine in April and May, though the problem would likely to get resolve in June.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque said SII is supposed to export 3 crore doses of vaccine to Bangladesh. But, they have grown to be unable to export vaccine. In that situation, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself is wanting her better to obtain vaccine. Besides, the health ministry has been making effort to import vaccine.
