'Attempts underway to collect Oxford vaccine from other countries'
"We have an agreement with Russia. We will get another 5 lakh vaccines from China within 12 May."
The government is trying to procure the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine doses from other manufacturing countries, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque.
"Efforts are also being made to procure vaccines from China and Russia due to the Covid-19 vaccine crisis," he made the remark at a virtual discussion on "What to do to tackle the second wave of coronavirus and ways to overcome the oxygen crisis" on Thursday, organised by Bangladesh Private Medical Colleges' Association.
"We ordered 3 crore doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from India's Serum Institute. Of these, we received 70 lakh and another 30 lakh as a gift. We have administered about 60 lakh doses as the first dose and 30 lakh for the second dose. Now we don't have too many vaccines left," he said.
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The minister further said, "The government is aware of the Oxford vaccine crisis. To this end, we are making arrangements to get the vaccine from other sources. We have an agreement with Russia. We will get another 5 lakh vaccines from China within 12 May."
"We are also in contact with other countries which are producing Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. We are trying our best to get the vaccine. I hope I can give good news soon," the minister added.
