Govt to keep providing free vaccine in future: Minister
Regarding the vaccination of foreign residents, a list from the Foreign Ministry will be followed
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Wednesday said the government will continue to provide vaccines for free to the citizens.
The minister said that if private pharmaceuticals are provided with an importing license, the public will eventually have to pay the cost.
"If we give private organisations approval for importing vaccines from abroad, they will have to pay for all the import costs alongside the price for vaccine doses. For this, the public will have to pay for the vaccine subsequently whereas the government will continue giving out free doses as it is doing now," he said.
The minister was speaking at a meeting on Covid-19 vaccine deployment and management held at the Health Ministry.
Zahid Maleque reiterated that the schools and colleges are about to open soon. "The prime minister has instructed to vaccinate the teachers, students and employees of education institutes," he added.
Regarding the vaccination of foreign residents, a list from the Foreign Ministry will be followed.
He also informed that if Bangladesh manages to get vaccines from COVAX, another 4 crore doses will be added to the country's inventory.
'If we can get our hands on more vaccines, we will give thoughts to reducing the age restrictions and vaccination schedules," he added.