Deals signed with WB, ADB to get vaccines: DGHS
The federal government has signed deals with the World Bank and Asian Development Bank to get Covid-19 vaccine shots quickly, said Meerjady Sabrina Flora, additional director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), reports UNB.
The World Bank has agreed to provide $500 million to Bangladesh in additional financing to get the Covid-19 vaccine shots, while ADB has decided to give $940 million, she said on Wednesday at a virtual press conference from the DGHS.
The $500 million World Bank loan for buying vaccine shots beneath the "Covid-19 Emergency Response and Pandemic Preparedness Project" can help Bangladesh vaccinate about 54 million people, the multinational lender said on Wednesday.
Also, the World Bank said the project would help Bangladesh procure vaccines; expand storage facilities; and distribute and deploy the vaccines.
However, Sabrina said: "We are touching India's Serum Institute about vaccine supply, too. Also, the federal government is exploring alternative resources of Covid-19 vaccines. "
Sabrina hoped that Bangladesh would get COVAX vaccine doses fast.
COVAX now has agreements in location to access almost 2 billion doses of several promising vaccine individuals and laid the groundwork for further doses to be secured through contributions from donors, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on December 18, 2020.
"These agreements mean that all COVAX's 190 participating and eligible economies will be able to access doses to protect vulnerable groups in the first half of 2021."
"At least 1.3 billion donor-funded doses will be made available to 92 economies eligible for the Gavi COVAX AMC, targeting up to 20 % of population coverage by the finish of the year," the WHO added.
However, Sabrina also said: "If the neighborhood companies want to help make the vaccine, the government gives them maximum support. Health minister Zahid Maleque has recently visited the factories of several companies; they are making good progress."
