Covid-19 shots: Over 7.8 lakh AstraZeneca jabs arrive from Japan
The country received 7.81 lakh doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from Japan under the Covax facility yesterday.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque said officials will resume administering the AstraZeneca second dose shots in a day or two, reports UNB.
"Those who failed to take the second dose after getting the first one will be able to get it now," he told reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Zahid Maleque received the shipment at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 3:15pm.
Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh Ito Naoki and Senior Secretary of Health Service Division Lokman Hossain Miah were also present at the airport.
With yesterday's arrival, Bangladesh has received a total of 10.26 lakh doses of the vaccine from Japan. The country has committed to supplying 30 lakh AstraZeneca doses to Bangladesh.
AK Abdul Momen thanked Japan for the AstraZeneca doses, which is of particular importance as some 15 lakh people are waiting for their second shot of this vaccine.
He told reporters that the remaining 20 lakh AstraZeneca doses will be arriving from Japan soon. Bangladesh has true friendship with Japan, he added.
Bangladesh has been calling for declaration of Covid-19 vaccines as a public good and transfer of technology for vaccine production, he said, adding that Japan will support Bangladesh in its demand.
The pandemic is a global problem, and as long as some people in some countries are left vulnerable, the world cannot be safe, he said.
Momen said Japanese firms work efficiently and deliver ahead of schedule. He also thanked Japan for recruiting Bangladeshi professionals and providing them with training.
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