Bangladesh received 500,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday from China, reported The Daily Star. Earlier, the Bangladesh government had used Covieshield from India’s SII for inoculating its population.  

In a ceremony, held at a state guest house today in Dhaka, Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming handed over vaccines to the country. Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momin and Health Minister Zahid Maleque also attended the ceremony.

The Bangladesh government expressed gratitude to China for commendable efforts in combating coronavirus and for unwavering support to the various countries of the world including Bangladesh to prevent global outbreaks.

The Sinopharm vaccine is produced by Beijing Bio-Institute of Biological Products Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China National Biotec Group (CNBG). The vaccine recently got emergency use approval from the WHO.

A transport aircraft of Bangladesh Air Force,  C-130 J, carrying the vaccines and AD syringes, reached BAF Base Bangabandhu in Kurmitola, Dhaka in the morning today, the Bangladesh Air Force said in a press release.

Authorities in Bangladesh decided to procure vaccines from China after India’s SII, the manufacturer of Covishield, failed to deliver vaccines on time. Bangladesh had signed a contract for 70 million doses of vaccines with India. 

Other countries like Sri Lanka and Nepal have been facing similar issues with the SII. (SAM)