14cr to get Covid vaccine in phases

The government will inoculate in phases nearly 14 crore people against Covid-19 with double-dose vaccine from the COVAX facility under a Tk 6,786 crore pandemic preparedness project.

The COVAX facility is a global initiative coordinated by WHO, GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance and Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

The project was undertaken in April last year and will be completed in June 2023.

Of the total project cost, Tk 6,614 crore will be given by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Bank in project assistance. Tk 172 crore will come from government funds.

The WB would supply most of the funds, show project documents.

Healthcare professionals, law enforcers, government officials and employees, media professionals and public representatives are among the 11 top-listed groups to get the vaccines, according to the documents.

The project documents do not mention that people aged 60 and above are in the priority list, but said those with less immunity will be vaccinated.

Under the Covid-19 Emergency Response and Pandemic Preparedness Project, the government earmarked around Tk 4,236 crore to procure, preserve, and distribute the vaccine. Another Tk 1,006 crore was allocated to buy healthcare equipment, according to the project documents.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the project yesterday at its meeting held at the NEC Conference Room in the capital. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting virtually from the Gono Bhaban.

Yesterday's approval is a crucial step in the country's efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak, which has so far infected at least 5,17,920 people.

The approval came a day after the government okayed the Oxford University-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for emergency use. The government also made an advanced payment of Tk 509.7 crore yesterday for the three crore doses of the vaccine to be manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII).

The pandemic preparedness project documents do not mention the vaccine of SII.

Planning Minister MA Mannan yesterday told reporters that the vaccine for coronavirus and healthcare equipment would be bought under the project.

"When this project was approved first in June, the issue of vaccine import was not included. The vaccine import issue has been newly included in the project plan. So the cost of the project has increased."

The minister said, "The government has taken the highest preparation in importing vaccines. The prime minister has also put the highest priority on it. The prime minister said 'vaccine will be available as per the contract. We believe we will get vaccines.' The vaccines will be distributed fairly."

The country has so far signed agreements to procure 9.8 crore doses of vaccine -- 6.8 crore from COVAX and 3 crore from SII. These would inoculate 4.9 crore people of the country, considering two doses per person.

THE PROJECT

The aim of the project is to tackle the pandemic through detecting Covid-19, contact tracing, and strengthening healthcare systems and emergency operation centres; and increasing storage of the emergency medical equipment.

Around 80 percent of the 170 million population will be vaccinated in two phases as per the plan.

Teams of six would be engaged in running the vaccine programme.

Each team will consist of two vaccinators (from among nurses, paramedics, interns and hired medical staffers) and four volunteers for screening, mobilisation, and record keeping.

The budget includes Tk 1,175 crore for COVAX vaccines purchased at subsidized prices; Tk 2,262 crore for direct purchase from COVAX or other sources; Tk 68 crore as shipping cost; Tk 384 crore for vaccine transport and operational expenses; and Tk 346 crore for vaccine preservation, cold chain, and supply chain management.

Apart from procuring, preserving, and distributing the vaccines, the other major project operations include installing modern microbiology laboratories alongside PCR machines at 27 medical colleges and hospitals in the country.

Besides, RT-PCR, antigen, and health safety kits will also be procured under the project. Biosafety Level-3 labs will also be set up at IEDCR and Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITID), Chattogram.

Under the project, 10-bed intensive care units (ICU) and 20-bed isolation units would be set up in 43 district hospitals.

The other major parts of the project include setting up of 10-bed ICU units at 10 medical college and hospitals and five-bed ICU units at infectious disease hospitals in Dhaka and Chattogram, setting up of seven medical screening units at five ports of entry, setting up of infectious disease units at 27 medical college and hospitals, setting up of infection prevention and control units at 62 district hospitals, setting up of medical waste management plants at 10 medical college hospitals and 10 district hospitals, and installing central liquid medical oxygen system at 30 government hospitals.