Administering of the first dose of Chinese vaccine ‘Sinopharm’ began in Bangladesh on Monday inside a month the country had suspended vaccination programme with Oxford-AstraZeneca jabs as India failed to ensure supply.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque inaugurated the fresh vaccination drive at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital at noon on Tuesday.
Ananya Salam Samata, a fifth-year student of Dhaka Medical College, was the first to receive the jab. More 157 of her classmates would receive the Chinese vaccine on the first day, said a press release of the health ministry.
All government medical students and frontline healthcare workers will get the Chinese vaccines gradually, said officials.
Bangladesh received five lakh doses of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by the Chinese government company Sinofarm as gift on May 12. Chinese authorities also assured giving six lakh more shots of the vaccine as a gift.
Bangladesh suspended administering the first dose of Indian Serum Institute produced Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on April 26 after the institute failed to provide vaccine.
