Covid-19 vaccine production from next year: Salman

Bangladesh will go into Covid-19 vaccine production from the year 2022 as the government has been taking all necessary initiatives in this regard.

Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment advisor Salman F Rahman on Tuesday came up with such a disclosure while speaking at the “Meet the Reporters” programme organised by Dhaka Reporters’ Unity.

Besides, Incepta has entered into an agreement with a Chinese company while Beximco Pharmaceuticals is also building capacity for vaccine production and the process will be completed within the next four to six weeks, said Salman F Rahman, also the Beximco chairman.

“Beximco is contacting vaccine manufacturers around the world and I believe that the vaccine production will start from next year,” he noted.

It is needed to manufacture the vaccine locally as there is a possibility for the coronavirus pandemic to continue in the world, he said.

“We have performed well to contain the covid-19 situation. The remaining Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine doses as per the contract with India’s Serum Institute will start coming from next month, also Salman informed.

It is noted that the Bangladesh government had earlier signed an agreement to purchase 30 million doses of the vaccine from the Serum Institute in November 2020. Then, the government paid Tk 6 billion in advance, nearly half the cost of the vaccines.

Regarding fuel price hike, the PM’s adviser said the price has increased in the country owing to volatility in the international market for crude oil. The price will be reduced gradually when the global rate falls, he added.

He also expressed hope that discipline will return to Dhaka’s transport sector if the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project is completed in the next three-four years.

On share market instability, Salman has categorically said that Bangladesh still lacks institutional investment in the country’s stock market. There is no market depth as around 80 per cent of the investors are the retailers.

Defending the much-controversial Digital Security Act, Salman said that such a law is needed to control the misinformation on social media without any target group.

“Many people are voicing their concern over our digital security act with a claim that there is no freedom of press in Bangladesh because of that law. But, I have noticed that the same kind act is also available in various countries under different names,” he added.

Salman opined that social media and online news portals have become popular, thanks to technological advancement.

“But, you, the media people, should be more conscious whenever you release any news for the sake of stopping the spread of misinformation. As false information can create unwanted chaos in the society, the news must be prepared on the basis of fact,’’ he further explained. 

However, we have to resolve the media-related controversial issues through discussions as you (newsmen) are the main stakeholders. Social media would soon be appeared as a serious problem, if we cannot handle it properly, he added.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) has approved in principle Globe Biotech Limited’s Covid-19 vaccine Bangavax for human trial.

“BMRC has given the approval in principle for administering Covid-19 vaccine of Bangavax and we’ll submit an application to the Bangladesh Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), seeking its permission for the clinical trial. The administration of its jabs will start once the final approval is given,” said Dr Mohamamd Mohiuddin, senior manager of BMRC’s Quality and Regulatory Department.

BMRC Director Dr Ruhul Amin signed the letter of approval issued on Tuesday.

Globe Biotech Limited has claimed that Bangavax is 100% effective for fighting 11 variants of Covid-19, including the Delta variant.