TIB’s statement on Covid-19 vaccine misleading: Health minister

The recent statement made by the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) claiming a lack of transparency in the government's spending on Covid-19 vaccine was misleading, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said on Monday.

"We strongly denounce the recent statement by the TIB," he said while addressing a press briefing on Monday afternoon at the health ministry.

"We have served about 13 crore people but TIB conducted a survey of only 1,800 over mobile phones. The survey size is very small and it cannot show the actual picture," he added. 

"No one came forward when there was a Covid-19 vaccine crisis in the country. Now that the situation has improved, it is not right to confuse the people of the country", the minister said, adding that the vaccination programme has been thoroughly transparent.

Bangladesh is a democratic country, therefore no legal action is taken when people or organisations express their opinion freely. However, a legal move can be made, if necessary, for the interest of the country and its people, the minister noted.

On 12 April, TIB said that there remains a lack of transparency in the government's spending on Covid-19 vaccinations.

On Monday, the minister said a total of 13 crore people received the first dose of vaccines which was 96% of the target, 11 crore took the second dose (87% of the target) and 1.21 crore took the booster dose (9% of the target).

"We have provided vaccines to 75% of the total population which is more than the World Health Organisation's estimate. I can say we are one of the most successful countries in the world in terms of distribution of vaccines," he said.

According to the minister, Bangladesh has so far bought 17 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines pending Tk20,000 crore on vaccine procurement till date, including the price of vaccine doses, transportation, and cold chain management.

The country also received 9.5 crore doses as gifts, which the minister estimated to have also cost Tk20,000 crore.

Taking into account the vaccine doses which were free of cost, the health minister claimed that Bangladesh has bought the vaccines at the lowest price rate in the world. 

Asked about the price of each dose, the minister could not answer and said he would inform later.

"There are plenty of vaccine doses in the country. Of the three crore doses under the contract with Serum Institute of India, we received 1.5 crore doses that we had paid for," he further added.

All the vaccines were bought at a similar price as quoted by the Serum Institute, the minister noted.

Zahid Maleque also cautioned everyone about the fourth wave of Covid-19 urging people to get vaccinated and follow health guidelines.

"We have 750 permanent vaccine centres and 1,40,000 temporary centres with 3,500 permanent and 1,50,000 temporary booths across the country. A total of five lakh people are working to distribute vaccines," he said.

"We have some reserve vaccines and are planning to send those to other countries who are facing a vaccine crisis," the minister added.