Bangladesh will get 131,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine under Covax program at the end of February, Health Services Division Secretary Md Abdul Mannan has said.
Besides, the second consignment of the same vaccine will reach the country from the Serum Institute of India in late February, he told reporters on Tuesday while visiting the vaccination program at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.
Under the Covax program, Bangladesh will get 12,792,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in the first half of 2021.
Covax is co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Gavi vaccine alliance, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.
Also Read- Bangladesh to get 12.8 million vaccines under Covax by June
Meanwhile, Bangladesh started the vaccination drive across the country on Sunday, using the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.
Each person will be given two doses of the vaccine.
The nationwide campaign gained some momentum as 78,273 people were administered the vaccine till Monday.
Bangladesh received 7 million doses of the vaccine, 2 million as a gift from India and 5 million as part of a contract with the Serum Institute of India.
The government plans to inoculate 80% of the country's population. According to the national vaccine distribution and preparation plan, the doses will be administered in five stages under three phases.
Also Read- People over 40 can now register for Covid-19 vaccination
In another development, the government has opened online registration on www.surokkha.gov.bd for people aged over 40. Family members of frontline fighters who are over 18 years old are also eligible to take the vaccine now.
Initially, the government planned to inoculate only the prioritized, frontline workers and everyone aged over 55.
Mannan said more than 600,000 people registered online until Tuesday morning to get the jab.
