Directorate general of health services (DGHS) will seek approval for Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine from the drug administration after that from the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) which is expected after the Christmas.
Bangladesh will be able to use the vaccine as soon as it gets approval from the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA).
A source at DGDA said there is a guideline for approval of life-saving drugs which will be applicable for the approval process of corona vaccine. DGDA will give priority to quick approval, considering the prevailing emergency situation.
Oxford vaccine is one of the cheapest vaccines among six which are at most advanced stage, invented during the Covid-19 pandemic. Although the price of the vaccine has been fixed at US$ 2.20, it will cost US$ 5.0 in Bangladesh apart from US$ 1.25 as additional cost. The highest price of Moderna vaccine is US$ 18.
Initially, the Bangladesh government has decided in principle to procure 30 million doses of vaccine for 15 million people which will cost US$ 187.5 million or Tk 15.89 billion.
Bangladesh has signed a tripartite agreement in November to procure Oxford vaccine.
In the UK, mass vaccination programme will begin with new year. Primarily, 20 million high-risk people will get vaccines.
On the other hand, Serum Institute of India has asked for emergency use of Oxford corona vaccine to the Indian regulatory body on 06 December. SII asked for permission for emergency use of the vaccine as soon as Pfizer sought approval for emergency use of their vaccine in India.
The health ministry has sought an allocation of Tk 15.89 billion to finance division for vaccine purpose on 10 November. Finance division on 16 November allocated Tk 7.35 billion under the revenue budget.
But the health ministry has sent a letter again for allocation of the full amount in favour of DGHS on 01 December, saying that they will issue a GO after getting the fund. A vaccine procurement plan has been approved by the DGHS director general as the procurement head.
