Dhaka: Bangladesh has received 3,83,080 doses of polio vaccine from Chinese company Sinovac Biotech, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain announced at a press conference. ‘We now have sufficient vaccine stock in hand. We will begin administering polio vaccines and there will be no problem in this regard,’ he stated, addressing the current status of government vaccines.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the minister emphasized the government’s focus on restoring public confidence in vaccination programs, prioritizing this over identifying those responsible for any mismanagement related to measles vaccines. He pointed out the severe risk associated with measles, noting that many patients develop pneumonia, which can become life-threatening and require ventilator support. To address this, Bangladesh has received 10 additional ventilators donated by a private pharmaceutical entrepreneur from the United States, which will be distributed immediately.
The minister assured that anti-rabies vaccinations have resumed and affirmed that no patient would be left without coverage. He mentioned that all vaccination programs are ongoing, although there is a slight shortage of Vitamin A capsules. Sufficient supplies are anticipated by June, and Vitamin A supplementation campaigns will continue twice yearly as per the existing schedule, ensuring no shortages in this sector.
Efforts are underway to identify and vaccinate children who remain outside routine immunization coverage through the ongoing Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). When questioned about a potential investigation into alleged mismanagement of vaccination activities, the minister clarified that while they are currently navigating a crisis, a decision on such investigations will be made centrally once the crisis subsides.