Grappling with an acute shortage of Covid 19 vaccines, Bangladesh will now receive over 100,000 doses of US-made Pfizer vaccine on June 2, according to a senior minister.

A total of 106,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine are slated to arrive e in Bangladesh on that date, Health Minister Zahid Maleque told The Daily Star.

Maleque said the COVAX authority has written to the health ministry, informing of the decision.

COVAX is a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. It is a partnership between CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations), Gavi (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations), UNICEF and the World Health Organisation, which has committed to providing Nepal with 13 million doses to inoculate six million people (20 percent of the 30 million population).

Bangladesh authorities have been facing trying times in procuring vaccines after the Indian government announced an export ban of the shots following a huge surge of Coronavirus infection.

Bangladesh earlier received 10.3 million doses of Covishield vaccine from India, but the supply has been halted due to India’s export ban that led to the manufacturer Serum Institute of India reneging on its commitments.

(SAM)