Vaccine
Doraiswami keen to push Covaxin as Covishield exports disrupted
Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Vikram Doraiswami is keen to remind his hosts that there is another option of a Covid-19 vaccine available from his country as the vaccine supply from the Serum Institute of India got disrupted amid high domestic demand.
The High Commissioner said besides the Covishield vaccine from Serum, the alternative that they have consistently been offering to export Covaxin, which they offered not only for trial here in Bangladesh at their own cost but also for co-production.
Covaxin is the brand name of India’s ‘indigenous vaccine’, so-called for also being developed on Indian soil by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Virology (NIV).
Also read: Greater trade, connectivity hold brighter future for Dhaka-Delhi ties: Doraiswami
Doraiswami reiterated that for Covaxin, there is also an offer to co-produce that remains on the table.
He also said Dhaka can choose to be flexible, so the choice is not either/or. It can choose to order both.
Bangladesh approves emergency use of Chinese Covid vaccine
The government on Thursday approved the emergency use of Sinopharm, a Chinese Covid-19 vaccine.
The approval was given at a meeting of the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), said Director General of DGDA Mahbubur Rahman.
On Tuesday, the government approved the emergency use of Sputnik V Vaccine of Russia.
“We’ll get 5 lakh doses of the Chinese vaccine as gift within 7-10 days. Then we’ll start distribution. Then the government will start buying those on G2G basis,” Mahbubur Rahman told reporters.
Also read: Decision on China vaccine after consulting advisory body: Health Minister
Incepta Pharmaceuticals, Popular Pharma and Health Care Pharma have the capacity of producing vaccine, and the Chinese vaccine could be produced locally, Mahbubur Rahman said.
“Discussions are on at the government level on local vaccine production. Among the three, Incepta alone has the capacity to produce 80 lakh doses of vaccine, and then export is also possible. If we could collect raw materials, then it’ll be possible to start the production within one or one and a half months. In case of technology transfer, it’ll take six months to start the production,” he added.
The DG said the DGDA has a 12-member public health emergency committee which examined the efficacy of the vaccine.
“The vaccine is being used by China and some other countries. We’ve got all the data about it and we’ve scrutinised it through technical experts,” Mahbub added.
Apparently considering its dwindling stock, the government suspended administering the first dose of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from Apr 26.
The first dose of the Covid vaccination has apparently been suspended amid uncertainty over the availability of vaccine doses from Serum Institute of India as per contract following rapid surge in the virus cases and deaths in neighbouring India.
Bangladesh signed an agreement with the Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd for 30 million doses of the vaccine.
Bangladesh received 7 million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine produced by Serum Institute of India through its contract. Bangladesh also received 3.3 million doses of vaccine as a bilateral partnership gift.
Although Foreign Minister AK Momen earlier assured people that there will be adequate doses of the vaccine but a record number of cases in India has made the delivery of the vaccine doses uncertain.
In mid-April, the pandemic suddenly turned India into a Covid vaccine importer from a mass exporter.
DG of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam has recently said Bangladesh will get 21 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccine by the first week of May.
“Most of these vaccine doses will be imported by Beximco Pharmaceuticals,” he told reporters.
Among the doses, one lakh are of COVAX while the Serum Institute will supply the rest, Khurshid Alam said
Also read: Bangladesh approves local production of Russian, Chinese Covid vaccines
Sinopharm Vaccine
In December 2020, Chinese authorities gave conditional approval for general public use of a coronavirus vaccine developed by state-owned drugmaker Sinopharm.
The move came a day after the firm said interim data showed its leading vaccine had a 79% efficacy rate in phase three trials, without providing more details, according to a BBC report.
Several Chinese-made vaccines at a late trial stage are already in use in China after being granted emergency licences.
The pandemic emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019.
It has since spread around the world, but China has managed to bring infection rates down to very low levels through strict anti-virus measures.
Bangladesh approves local production of Russian, Chinese Covid vaccines
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday (April 28, 2021) approved in principle a proposal for producing Russian and Chinese Covid-19 vaccines in Bangladesh.
“The cabinet body has approved in principle the Health Ministry’s proposal to facilitate the production of Russian and Chinese vaccines,” said Dr Shahida Aktar, additional secretary of the Cabinet Division, while briefing reporters after the meeting.
Also Read: Bangladesh approves emergency use of Russian Sputnik V vaccine
She noted that the government will purchase vaccine technology from Russian and China through direct procurement method (DPM) which means the Health Ministry will not require to follow any competitive bidding princess.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presided over the virtual meeting where the proposal was placed by the Health Ministry on an emergency basis.
Also Read: Will take 2 weeks to get vaccine from alternative sources
Dr Shahida Aktar said Russia’s Sputnik-V and China’s Sinopharm will be produced in Bangladesh using the facilities and logistics of different private pharmaceutical companies.
“No name of any specific companies was discussed at the meeting. But it was agreed in principle that the Russian and Chinese authorities will examine facilities and then things will be settled about who will produce the vaccines,” he added.
Read Covid-19: Mexico to join clinical trials of Russian vaccine
The approval from the government’s top authority came within a day of the government’s move to produce Covid-19 vaccines from Russian and China after India imposed a ban on the export of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine by Serum Institute to Bangladesh.
Mustafa Kamal said though Bangladesh approved Russian and Chinese vaccines’ local production, it will continue to its drive to have vaccine doses from India.
Read Myanmar registers Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine
“We didn’t give up the hope about getting vaccine jabs from India,” he told the reporters.
Bangladesh approves emergency use of Russian Sputnik V vaccine
The government of Bangladesh on Tuesday (April 27, 2021) approved the emergency use of Russian Sputnik V Vaccine.
The approval was given at a meeting of the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA).
Also read: FM to join China-led virtual meeting on vaccine cooperation
After the meeting, Director General of DGDA Mahbubur Rahman said, “Now there’s no legal bar to the import or use of this vaccine. If Bangladesh wants to purchase it, Russia will provide it next month,” he said.
“If everything goes well, this vaccine is expected to be available by May. In the first phase, 40 lakh doses will arrive,” he added.
Read US will share AstraZeneca vaccines with world
The DG said the DGDA has a 12-member public health emergency committee which examined the efficacy of the vaccine.
The vaccine is around 91 percent effective against Covid and its emergency use has been approved considering all these things, he added.
Read Will take 2 weeks to get vaccine from alternative sources: FM
Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine gives around 92% protection against Covid-19, reported BBC on February 2 this year referring to late-stage trial results published in The Lancet reveal.
“The vaccine was approved by Russia and it’s now being used in seven countries of the world. We’ve got all the data about it and we’ve scrutinised it through technical experts,” Mahbub added.
Read Vaccine is not the only solution: Quader
Apparently considering its dwindling stock, the government suspended administering the first dose of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from Apr 26.
Will soon come out of uncertainty over vaccine availability: Minister
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Tuesday said the uncertainty over receiving coronavirus vaccine jabs from the Serum Institute of India is likely to be over soon.
“We placed an order for three crore doses of vaccine (from Serum Institute) and paid money. But it’s a matter of regret that we’re not getting the vaccine in due time, disrupting our vaccination activities. The local agent, Beximco, and we’re trying our best to have it,” he said.
The minister said, “Our government is also trying to bring the vaccine jabs and the PMO and the Foreign Ministry have been working on it. Our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has repeatedly requested the Indian Prime Minister to ensure the vaccine supply. So, we hope we may get the vaccine quickly, but we couldn’t know the exact time. We’ll be able to know about it within a few days.”
Also read: Bangladesh to suspend administering Covid vaccine 1st dose from Monday
He made the remarks while talking to reporters on the premises of Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS).
US will share AstraZeneca vaccines with world
The U.S. will begin sharing its entire pipeline of vaccines from AstraZeneca once the COVID-19 vaccine clear federal safety reviews, the White House told The Associated Press on Monday, with as many as 60 million doses expected to be available for export in the coming months.
The move greatly expands on the Biden administration’s action last month to share about 4 million doses of the vaccine with Mexico and Canada. The AstraZeneca vaccine is widely in use around the world but not yet authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The move comes as the White House is increasingly assured about the supply of the three vaccines being administered in the U.S., particularly following the restart of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson shot over the weekend.
Also read: Governments give varying advice on AstraZeneca vaccine
“Given the strong portfolio of vaccines that the U.S. already has and that have been authorized by the FDA, and given that the AstraZeneca vaccine is not authorized for use in the U.S., we do not need to use the AstraZeneca vaccine here during the next several months,” said White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients. “Therefore the U.S. is looking at options to share the AstraZeneca doses with other countries as they become available.”
More than 3 million people worldwide have died of COVID-19.
About 10 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine have been produced but have yet to pass review by the FDA to “meet its expectations for product quality,” Zients said. That process could be completed in the next several weeks. About 50 million more doses are in various stages of production and could be available to ship in May and June pending FDA sign-off.
The U.S. has yet to finalize where the AstraZeneca doses will go, Zients said. Neighbors Mexico and Canada have asked the Biden administration to share more doses, while dozens of other countries are looking to access supplies of the vaccine. The doses will be donated by the U.S. government, which has contracted with the company for a total of 300 million doses — though the company has faced production issues.
AstraZeneca’s doses in the U.S. were produced at an Emergent BioSolutions plant in Baltimore that has come under increased regulatory and public scrutiny after botching batches of the J&J vaccine. The U.S. pressed J&J to take over the plant and, as part of the effort to ensure the quality of newly produced vaccines, directed the facility to stop making the AstraZeneca shot. AstraZeneca is still looking to identify a new U.S. production facility for its future doses.
Also read: Australia halts AstraZeneca vaccine for most people under 50
AstraZeneca’s vaccine was initially expected to be the first to receive federal emergency authorization, and the U.S. government ordered enough for 150 million Americans before issues with the vaccine’s clinical trial held up clearance. The company’s 30,000-person U.S. trial didn’t complete enrollment until January, and it has still not filed for an emergency use authorization with the FDA.
Vaccine is not the only solution: Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has reminded everyone that vaccine is not the only solution to the coronavirus problem.
"Vaccine won’t work if you don’t wear mask all the time," he said at a virtual views exchange meeting with officials of Comilla Road Zone, BRTC and BRTA on Monday morning.
He joined the meeting from his official residence.
Also read: 'Strict’ lockdown again if health rules violated: Quader
Quader urged everyone to stand by the people from their respective positions instead of doing politics.
“Life comes first before livelihood,” he said. “Everyone has to follow hygiene rules to save lives during the pandemic.”
The only vision of politics should be to stop this spread of the virus to save the people. Quader said that the government is also playing its role.
Also read: Quader to BNP: 'Stop paying lip service amid Covid-19'
He said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is supervising everything.
People want to know initiatives about vaccine: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Sunday said the people want to know what initiative the government has taken to remove uncertainty created over getting Covid-19 vaccine in time.“Those who have received the first jab are concerned whether they would get the second dose in time,” he said in a statement.The JaPa chairman said frustration is growing among people as the country did not receive vaccine doses as per agreement since February.“Uncertainty has been created among the people over getting vaccine,” he said adding that getting vaccinated is the right of the people.Quader said it is the government's responsibility to vaccinate all eligible communities across the country. “The people of the country want to know what initiative the government has taken over the vaccine,” he said.The government will have to take effective steps to ensure vaccine for the people within the stipulated time, said Quader, also the deputy leader of the opposition.He said last year JaPa suggested the government maintain contact with alternative sources over vaccines. But no such initiative has been taken. As a result, the country is now facing a tough crisis.The JaPa chairman expected that the government would make all-out efforts to collect the necessary vaccine on an urgent basis.
Bangladesh to get 21 lakh Covid vaccine doses by early May: DGHS
Bangladesh will get 21 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccine by the first week of May, said DG of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam on Sunday.
“Most of these vaccine doses will be imported by Beximco Pharmaceuticals,” he told reporters following an online discussion meeting marking World Malaria Day.
Among the doses, one lakh are of COVAX while Serum Institute of India will supply the rest, Khurshid Alam said.
Also read: How long does protection from COVID-19 vaccines last?
“We’ll continue administering the first doses of the vaccine alongside completing the second doses,” the DG said, adding, “We’ll also get vaccine/s from China as a gift. The Covid-19 National Technical Advisory Committee will take the decision on how those will be administered.”
He also told the journalists that three of the local pharmaceutical companies have the capacity to produce Covid-19 vaccines.
As the deadly variant of the virus is being spread rapidly across India, a proposal has been sent to the authorities concerned to stop all the communications with the neighbouring country, except the transportation of emergency goods, he said.
Read Around 6,000 Americans contracted Covid after being fully vaccinated, 74 died: CDC
White House offers new tax credit to help spur vaccinations
President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced new employer tax credits and other steps to encourage people reluctant to be inoculated to get the COVID-19 vaccine as his administration tries to overcome diminishing demand for the shots. The moves came as Biden celebrated reaching his latest goal of administering 200 million coronavirus doses in his first 100 days in office.
With more than 50% of adults at least partially vaccinated and roughly 28 million vaccine doses being delivered each week, demand has eclipsed supply as the constraining factor to vaccinations in much of the country.
In a White House speech on Wednesday, Biden acknowledged entering a “new phase” in the federal vaccination effort that relies on increased outreach to Americans to get their shots, both to protect them and their communities.
“Vaccines can save your own life, but they can also save your grandmother’s life, your co-worker’s life, the grocery store clerk or the delivery person helping you and your neighbors get through the crisis,” Biden said. “That’s why you should get vaccinated.”
Also read: At ‘moment of peril,’ Biden opens global summit on climate
Over the past week, the pace of inoculation in the U.S. has slowed slightly. That is partly a reflection of disruptions from the “pause” in administration of the Johnson & Johnson shot for a safety review, but also of softening interest for vaccines in many places even as eligibility has been opened to all those older than 16.
As the vaccination program progresses, the administration believes it will only get more difficult to sustain the current pace of about 3 million shots per day. Roughly 130 million Americans have yet to receive one dose.
Surveys have shown that vaccine hesitancy has declined since the rollout of the shots, but administration officials believe they have to make getting vaccinated easier and more appealing, particularly for younger Americans who are less at risk from the virus and do not feel the same urgency to get a shot. That means providing incentives and encouragement to get vaccinated, as well as reducing the friction surrounding the vaccination process.
Biden announced a tax credit for small businesses to provide paid leave for those getting vaccinated or potentially needing to take time off to recover from side effects. Paid for through the $1.9 trillion virus relief package passed last month, the tax change would provide a credit of up to $511 per day, per employee for businesses with fewer than 500 workers to ensure that those workers or businesses don’t suffer a penalty by getting vaccinated.
The White House is urging larger employers, which have more resources, to provide the same benefits to their workers, and educate them about the shots and encourage them to get vaccinated.
“We’re calling on every employer, large and small, in every state, give employees the time off they need with pay to get vaccinated,” Biden said.
Also read: Hitting latest vaccine milestone, Biden pushes shots for all
According to the White House, just 43% of working adults have received at least one shot.
As Biden celebrated the vaccine milestone, there is a different reality in the states.
In Iowa, nearly half of the counties are not accepting new doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from the state’s allotment because demand has fallen off. In Florida, Palm Beach County plans to close mass vaccination clinics at the end of May with thousands of available vaccine slots unclaimed. In rural West Virginia, a vaccine clinic at a casino/race track parking garage is opening shots to out-of-state residents to address lagging demand. The hope is that people from Washington, D.C., make the hour’s drive to get vaccinated. In Arizona, a plan collapsed that would have opened a federally run vaccine site in Tucson; demand is slipping and county officials preferred more targeted, mobile locations.
Asked about the dip in vaccinations, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said “fluctuation is not uncommon” and that “what we want to do is continue to encourage Americans to continue to get vaccinated.”
“The pace of vaccination isn’t linear,” Becerra said, adding that “we are on a pretty good pace.”
Through its partnership with more than 40,000 retail pharmacies, the White House says more than 90% of Americans now live within 5 miles of a vaccination site. The administration is encouraging state and local efforts to bring vaccines directly to people, whether through initiatives reaching the homebound or clinics at large employment sites.
Many states have also begun to open up vaccination sites to walk-in appointments, reducing reliance on often-cumbersome reservation systems.
Maximizing the number of Americans vaccinated in the coming months is critical for the White House, which is aiming to restore a semblance of normalcy around the July Fourth holiday and even more so by the beginning of the next school year.
Administration officials have been careful to avoid predicting when the country will have vaccinated enough people to reach herd immunity — when enough people become immune to a disease to make its spread unlikely. The U.S. is on track to have enough vaccine supply for every adult by the end of May and for every American by July, but administering the shots will be another matter.
With its stockpile secure and demand dropping at home, the president spoke again of sharing excess doses with allies.
Biden said he talked with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for about 30 minutes on Wednesday. “We helped a little bit there, we’re going to try to help some more,” Biden said, referring to his decision last month to share about 1.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine with Canada. “But there’s other countries as well that I’m confident we can help, including in Central America. But it’s in process.”
Also read: Biden to America after Floyd verdict: ‘We can’t stop here’
He added. “We don’t have enough to be confident to send it abroad now. But I expect we’re going to be able to do that.”
Biden set his goal of 200 million shots last month after meeting his 100 million-in-100 days goal just over a month ago. That original benchmark was announced Dec. 8, days before the U.S. had even one authorized vaccine, let alone the three that have now received emergency authorization. Still, it was generally seen within reach, if optimistic.
By the time Biden was inaugurated on Jan. 20, the U.S. had already administered 20 million shots at a rate of about 1 million per day, bringing complaints at the time that Biden’s goal was not ambitious enough. Biden quickly revised it upward to 150 million doses in his first 100 days.