Today, Bangladesh will receive 7,81,320 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the second consignment of more than three million doses of such vaccines pledged by Japan under the COVAX framework.
According to the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo, Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan Shahabuddin Ahmed saw off the second cargo of AstraZeneca vaccine developed in Japan at the Narita airport near Tokyo today.
The vaccine-carrying ANA freight left Narita Airport Terminal-1 tonight at 10:40 p.m. (Japan local time) and is expected to arrive here at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
As the first shipment under the COVAX facility, Bangladesh received 2,45,200 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine on July 24.
COVAX is global cooperation led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, with the goal of ensuring equal access to Covid-19 vaccinations.
These vaccine shipments are critical for Bangladesh, as approximately 1.5 million patients are awaiting the second dosage of the Oxford-made vaccine.
The Serum Institute of India has already sent 1.2 crore doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Bangladesh (SII).
Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen previously stated that the government has already put up a plan to obtain more COVID-19 vaccinations from various sources through COVAX, as well as commercial purchases, to maintain a consistent supply of vaccines for the country’s citizens.
