245,200 doses Astra Zeneca vaccine reach Dhaka from Japan

Bangladesh received 245,200 doses of Astra Zeneca vaccine as the first consignment from Japan on Saturday under COVAX facilities.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen received the vaccine at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) after a Cathay Pacific Airways carrying the jabs landed in Dhaka around 3:20pm.

Earlier, Momen said Japan will send over 2.9 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Bangladesh in different phases.

The government has already made a good lineup of getting more COVID-19 vaccines from different sources under COVAX along with commercial purchase to ensure steady supply of jabs for the countrymen, he said.

COVAX, a global alliance, is a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines directed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

The consignment of Astra Zeneca vaccine has been reaching here as good news for Bangladesh as 1.5 million people are waiting for the second dose of this Oxford made vaccine.

Bangladesh has so far received 1.2 crore doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII).