Bangladesh keeping close contact for Covid-19 vaccine: health minister

Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque today said Bangladesh is keeping close communication with companies that are at the final stage of Covid-19 vaccine development.

"Many countries are working frantically for COVID-19 vaccine development campaign… But nine companies are at final stage in the race of vaccine development. We are keeping constant communication with five companies to get effective vaccines at the quickest possible time," he said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given all necessary instructions to take all preparations including financial issues for collecting effective and safe vaccine soon after it is developed by a company, the minister told a function at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in the capital, an official release said.

Bangladesh is successfully handling Covid-19 pandemic through taking prompt preventive measures to contain the spread of the deadly virus, he said, adding the government has been taking multiple measures to contain the outbreak of coronavirus in the country.

Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Additional Secretary of Health Service Division Mahibur Rahman and senior officials of the health ministry, among others, were present at the function with DMCH Director Brig Gen AKM Nasir Uddin in the chair.

About the second wave of coronavirus, Maleque said many countries across the world including the USA and some European nations ignored the deadly virus and as a result they are facing a second wave of Covid-19.

"We are now aware enough of the second wave of the deadly disease…. Bangladesh may face second wave of coronavirus. So, we have to be careful," he added.

The health ministry sources said many countries including China, the UK, the USA, Russia and India are in the final stage for vaccine development as they are performing phase-3 human trial of Covid-19 vaccine.

If these countries are able to develop coronavirus vaccines, Bangladesh will get inoculations on priority basis, they said, adding those countries with per capita income below 4000 US dollar will get vaccines for free. As per capita income of Bangladesh is below 2,000 US dollar, the country will get the vaccine for free.