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01-08-2021, 07:36 PM
![[Image: Covishield_0_1200x768.jpeg?LGr2wvl6uWhHO...ze=770:433]](https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/indiatoday/images/story/202101/Covishield_0_1200x768.jpeg?LGr2wvl6uWhHONMb_E.jZkUlMQffipoP&size=770:433)
Bangladesh's drug regulator has approved the University of Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine 'Covishield' for emergency use. The only coronavirus vaccine to receive approval in Bangladesh, Covishield is being developed with the help of Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII).
Director-General of the Department of Drug Administration (DDA), Major General Mahbubur Rahman told the media on Thursday, "Emergency use has been authorized tonight. Now the vaccine can actually be used."
The Covid-19 vaccine has emerged as a beacon of hope after over 12 months since the outbreak of the pandemic. Bangladesh government had earlier signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SII and Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd to purchase 3 crore doses of Covishield.
On January 4, Bangladesh's DDA gave its nod for the import of the University of Oxford's vaccine. The No Objection Certificate (NOC) in this regard was issued on January 4, DDA chief Major General Mahbubur Rahman said.
The regulator, however, has clarified that the Covid-19 vaccine can only be used in the case of an emergency.
'Decision was taken on recommendation of expert committee'
The approval to Covishield was given on the basis of the recommendation of a 14-member public health emergency committee, Major General Rahman added. This committee discussed details such as where the vaccine was developed and which countries approved it among others, said the DDA chief.
Sources within Bangladesh's Health Ministry said 1.5 crore people will receive the vaccine in the initial phase since each person will be administered two doses. As many as 50 lakh people in the country will be administered the vaccine each month. The initial 3 crore doses of Covishield will be administered free of cost.
India to give priority to neighbors in vaccination
Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Vikram Kumar Doraiswamy said the Government of India will give "priority" to its own people as well as its neighbors with respect to the supply of the Covid-19 vaccine. Doraiswamy made the remarks in response to a question from reporters following his meeting with Bangladesh Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury in Dhaka on Thursday.
Asked when Bangladesh could get the coronavirus vaccine, the High Commissioner said, "The Indian Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Medicine - none of them have spoken about the ban on vaccine exports, no one has said that exports have been banned."
"We have repeatedly said, our Prime Minister has said - our vaccine will be used for humanity. Our priority for us is India, of course, our own people and our neighbors. What other assurance can we give?" the Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka clarified.
Doraiswamy went on to add that several Indian companies have started the process of vaccine production and their vaccines have been approved for emergency use. The Government of India has not imposed any restrictions on exports. "The rest depends on how many vaccines they can produce. It's not something I can't control or no one can control. It absolutely depends on production in general. The more companies can produce, the more they can export," he said.
Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Vikram Kumar Doraiswamy said the important takeaway here is that India's top leadership has given assurances to Bangladesh in this regard. "Let the supply start," he said adding, "The company [SII] has also promised to vaccinate the Indian government. Let them start production and distribution."
Bangladesh Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury told reporters, "India is a very good neighbor of ours. The relationship between our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Prime Minister of India has reached a different height. We can cooperate with each other all the time, we are doing that."
India produces about 80 percent of the world's vaccines each year. Many countries, including Bangladesh, are waiting for the first shipment of the coronavirus vaccine from India. The Serum Institute of India is involved in the production and marketing of the Covid-19 vaccine developed jointly by Oxford University and AstraZeneca.
Director-General of the Department of Drug Administration (DDA), Major General Mahbubur Rahman told the media on Thursday, "Emergency use has been authorized tonight. Now the vaccine can actually be used."
The Covid-19 vaccine has emerged as a beacon of hope after over 12 months since the outbreak of the pandemic. Bangladesh government had earlier signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SII and Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd to purchase 3 crore doses of Covishield.
On January 4, Bangladesh's DDA gave its nod for the import of the University of Oxford's vaccine. The No Objection Certificate (NOC) in this regard was issued on January 4, DDA chief Major General Mahbubur Rahman said.
The regulator, however, has clarified that the Covid-19 vaccine can only be used in the case of an emergency.
'Decision was taken on recommendation of expert committee'
The approval to Covishield was given on the basis of the recommendation of a 14-member public health emergency committee, Major General Rahman added. This committee discussed details such as where the vaccine was developed and which countries approved it among others, said the DDA chief.
Sources within Bangladesh's Health Ministry said 1.5 crore people will receive the vaccine in the initial phase since each person will be administered two doses. As many as 50 lakh people in the country will be administered the vaccine each month. The initial 3 crore doses of Covishield will be administered free of cost.
India to give priority to neighbors in vaccination
Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Vikram Kumar Doraiswamy said the Government of India will give "priority" to its own people as well as its neighbors with respect to the supply of the Covid-19 vaccine. Doraiswamy made the remarks in response to a question from reporters following his meeting with Bangladesh Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury in Dhaka on Thursday.
Asked when Bangladesh could get the coronavirus vaccine, the High Commissioner said, "The Indian Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Medicine - none of them have spoken about the ban on vaccine exports, no one has said that exports have been banned."
"We have repeatedly said, our Prime Minister has said - our vaccine will be used for humanity. Our priority for us is India, of course, our own people and our neighbors. What other assurance can we give?" the Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka clarified.
Doraiswamy went on to add that several Indian companies have started the process of vaccine production and their vaccines have been approved for emergency use. The Government of India has not imposed any restrictions on exports. "The rest depends on how many vaccines they can produce. It's not something I can't control or no one can control. It absolutely depends on production in general. The more companies can produce, the more they can export," he said.
Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Vikram Kumar Doraiswamy said the important takeaway here is that India's top leadership has given assurances to Bangladesh in this regard. "Let the supply start," he said adding, "The company [SII] has also promised to vaccinate the Indian government. Let them start production and distribution."
Bangladesh Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury told reporters, "India is a very good neighbor of ours. The relationship between our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Prime Minister of India has reached a different height. We can cooperate with each other all the time, we are doing that."
India produces about 80 percent of the world's vaccines each year. Many countries, including Bangladesh, are waiting for the first shipment of the coronavirus vaccine from India. The Serum Institute of India is involved in the production and marketing of the Covid-19 vaccine developed jointly by Oxford University and AstraZeneca.
![[Image: hs9GbsG.gif]](https://i.imgur.com/hs9GbsG.gif)
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