Nine crore corona vaccines to arrive by June: Cabinet Secretary

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said, corona vaccines for four and half crore people are going to arrive in the country by the months of May-June. Total nine crore vaccines are going to arrive as two doses will be given to each of four and half crore people. In this way 20 per cent of the total population will come under coverage of the vaccination.

He said this while briefing the newsmen at the secretariat after holding cabinet meeting on Monday. Earlier the cabinet meeting was held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The Cabinet Secretary said, more vaccines for three crore people will arrive in the country in the second phase. The Health Minister is expecting that Oxford vaccine will arrive at the end of January or at the beginning of February. In this connection trainings are being given to the workforce who will work in the field level. Training is being given on how they would dispose materials used in the vaccination process. It was also discussed whether private sector can be involved in the vaccination process.

He said, Health Minister is interested to use the extensive EPI activities, he wants to use the hospitals even the private sector. As we are getting time, so he is thinking about Oxford vaccine. The government will not discourage anyone if others get WHO approval. Our committee will approve the process.

Khandker Anwarul Islam said, so far we know that Moderna and Pfizer corona vaccines have to preserve minus 25 and minus 17 degree Celsius temperature respectively. But we have not that kind of structure at the grass root level. Those can be preserved in the cold storage. Technical committee will look into the matter. They will fix the matter whether vaccines can be given without bringing major changes to the available structure. It is a technical matter.

AH