Govt to buy 7.5cr more Covid jabs from China: Health minister

Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque has said the government will procure 7.5 crore more doses of Sinopharm vaccine from China.

He disclosed the matter while inaugurating the Covid Field Hospital at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University on Saturday noon.

“We signed an agreement of 1.5 crore vaccine doses with China. They have already started sending vaccines. We will sign another agreement for another six crore doses. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has approved the procurement,” the minister said.

“Out of these doses, a total of four crore will arrive in October and November,” he added.

Earlier, the minister inaugurated the 1000-bed field hospital at BSMMU. At that time, the minister said, BSMMU's field hospital has started its journey with 357 beds at present. Of these, 40 are ICUs, the rest are central oxygen lines. The hospital will be upgraded to 1000 beds gradually.

“Not all patients will be admitted here. New and critical patients will come here for treatment,” he added.

Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Md Lokman Hossain Mia, Director General of the Department of Health, ABM Khurshid Alam, Vice-Chancellor of BSMMU Prof Md Sharfuddin Ahmed and others were present at the inauguration programme.