Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Wednesday said Bangladesh is geared to receive one million doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine through the Covax program by the end of August.
A letter from the World Health Organization (WHO) on the provision of the doses has already arrived, the minister said in a press briefing, according to media reports.
Covax (Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access) is a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines directed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the WHO.
It intends to procure enough vaccines for 30% of the population in 91 of the poorest participating territories, with donors covering the cost.
On June 11, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said Bangladesh would receive over one million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through Covax.
Bangladesh started its nationwide Covid-19 vaccination program on February 7 by administering Covishield, the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII).
The country received seven million Covishield doses through its contract with SII. Besides, India gave Bangladesh 3.3 million vaccines as gifts.
On April 25, the government suspended administering first doses with Covishield, just a day after India said no more vaccine doses would be shipped to Bangladesh anytime soon.
