Dhaka: Bangladesh remains the top recipient of COVID 19 vaccines under the COVAX facility to date, says UNICEF.
It has received over 190 million doses of COVID 19 vaccines through the COVAX facility which is a global initiative co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the World Health Organisation, with UNICEF as a key delivery partner. COVAX accounts for over 62 percent of doses received by Bangladesh.
After the start of COVID 19 vaccination in Bangladesh in February 2021, UNICEF delivered the first COVAX shipment of vaccines on June 1 last year. At that time only 4 percent of the population of Bangladesh was fully vaccinated. After a year and a few months, more than 11.7 crore people which is 69 percent of the population in Bangladesh is fully vaccinated with two doses of the vaccine.
UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh Sheldon Yett said that the success in getting millions of vaccines quickly and safely into arms in every corner of the country has been nothing short of remarkable.
Additional Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof. Dr. Meerjady Sabrina Flora said that Bangladesh has been able to vaccinate the targeted population without wasting doses helped by the continuous supply of the vaccine and hardwork of the dedicated health workers.
UNICEF has also supported the Government’s COVID-19 response by strengthening the cold chain and ultra-cold chain, delivering critical supplies, generating demand, supporting data management and building capacity for vaccine administration. These investments will continue to serve the people of Bangladesh for years to come beyond the COVID-19 crisis, said the UNICEF press release issued on Tuesday.
Bangladesh with 69 per cent fully vaccinated population is close to achieving the global benchmark of 70 per cent fully vaccinated population by June 2022. A COVID-19 booster dose campaign is planned for June.
