Bangladesh still struggles in managing mass Covid vaccination with the target of 'herd immunity' as the supply of jabs fell short of the demand.
In recent days there have been some steady supplies from several sources but a high demand from people seeking health safeguards against the pandemic far outstripped the availability.
So far, over 220,889,928 doses of vaccine have been administered-15,461,583 in first dose and 5,428,345 given in second dose.
The government set a target to vaccinate 120 million people, meaning that it required 240 million doses for administering vaccines twice. And considering the 10 percent wastage the number would be higher.
Experts told the FE that the vaccination should be completed in maximum two and a half years
Although recent months saw increased supplies compared to last year, the vaccination drive hits snags for supply-side constraint.
Director-General of the Department of the Health Services Prof Mohammad Khurshid Alam said that his department has the capability of getting to the goal of immunization.
"If there is sufficient supply, we can meet the target."
The government has already stopped administering the first doze of the Moderna vaccines as supply stopped.
Administering AstraZaneca jabs was resumed lately after a long gap with a 3-million fresh stock sent by Japan under Covax arrangement managed by the World Health Organization.
Mainly the 1.5 million people who were deprived of the second dose after the supply stoppage by Serum Institute of India are being administered with the Japan stock.
The recent increase is geared by Sinopharm, and Bangladesh so far received 11.5 million of the China vaccines coming to fill the gap in the last recourse.
Of these, 7 million were sent under a procurement deal, 3.4 million under Covax scheme and the rest 1.1 million given as gift from the Chinese government.
Talking to the FE, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said that he hoped a smooth supply in the coming months under the deal with China for purchasing 75 million vaccines.
Bangladesh is expecting 60 million vaccines under Covax facility, managed the WHO.
The supply constraint caused a string of problems during the nationwide mass-vaccination campaign.
First of all, though the government high-ups said that the government would administer 10 million vaccines in a week during the drive, it had to backtrack on the target due to the supply crunch.
Last Thursday, the department concerned announced its plan for administering second dose of Moderna, but in many centres could not do that supplies ran out. Such an incident also took place in Chittagong General Hospital where not a single dose of Moderna or Sinopharm was available that day.
Later, the Health Ministry said it was a misunderstanding. Other kinds of mismanagement and lack of coordination were evident also.
Though it was announced that with the NID or certificates from the local representatives they could get the vaccine from any centre, but in reality they had to despair.
"When I went to a nearby vaccination centre, I was told that I have to go to my village where I am a voter. This centre is administering vaccines for those who are voters of this area," a trader in Kalyanpur area of the capital said.
It was learnt that mainly the local ward councilors called the shot during the mass-vaccination drive contrary to many of the instructions of the Health Directorate.
And there were also rampant allegations of nepotism in the vaccination centres.
Meanwhile, a tripartite MoU will be signed Monday among Chinese vaccine company, Incepta Pharmaceuticals and the government for co-production of Sinopharm vaccine in Bangladesh.
Under the deal, the Chinese vaccine manufacturer will send bulk raw material to Incepta for 'fill and finish' process.
An official of the Incepta said that the Chinese company representatives had already assessed the capacity of the Incepta few months ago.
According to experts it will take at least two months to start production after the raw material supply.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com