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‘BD keeps close contact with five companies for COVID-19 vaccine’

Health minister says


| Updated: September 24, 2020 09:39:21


‘BD keeps close contact with five companies for COVID-19 vaccine’

Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque has said Bangladesh is keeping constant communication with five companies to get effective COVID-19 vaccines at the quickest possible time.

“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.

The minister came up with the statement while addressing the inaugural function of modernisation and expanded programme of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in Dhaka on Wednesday, reports BSS.

Zahid Maleque said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given all necessary instructions to take all preparations including financial issue for collecting effective and safe vaccine soon after it is developed by a company in the world.

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 halt the outbreak of coronovirus in the country.

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 killer disease…. Bangladesh may face second wave of coronavirus. So, we have to be careful of the lethal virus,” 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 development.

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.

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.

 

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