Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday (Mar 4) received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim confirmed the media of the matter. PM’s younger sister Sheikh Rehana was present at the time.
Earlier on Feb 24, Sheikh Rehana, also the younger daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, received the Covid-19 vaccine.
Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Covid-19 vaccination rollout in the country virtually in the capital’s Kurmitola General Hospital (KGH) on Jan 27.
The first shot of the Oxford-Astrazeneca developed vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII) was administered to a nurse, Runu Veronica Costa, of KGH. Then four more people, including two doctors, a traffic police and an Army Brigadier received the vaccine at the hospital. Later, 20-25 frontline health workers also received the vaccine.
On Feb 7, Bangladesh launched a nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive. As many as 47,55,911 people got registered till 2:30 p.m. Thursday to take Covid-19 vaccines.
However, a total of 35,81,169 people have received the coronavirus jab till Thursday.
Bangladesh has so far received 90 lakh vaccine doses as part of a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on Nov 5 last year and a subsequent agreement on Dec 13 among Bangladesh government, Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd and the SII.
Bangladesh has procured three crore doses of Oxford University-AstraZeneca invented vaccine manufactured by the SII. Besides, the Indian government has sent 20 lakh doses as gifts.
Bangladesh will get more vaccines under the COVAX programme, led by the World Health Organization and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
