The government has ordered to stop giving the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine from Monday until further notice.
The Directorate General for Health Services (DGHS) sent an order in this regard to all the vaccine centers through civil surgeons. The Bangladesh Post has obtained a copy of the order.
The decision comes following the uncertainty of vaccine supply from India.
Bangladesh is using the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine made in Serum Institute of India.
So far, Bangladesh received 7 million doses of Serum’s Covishield through its contract plus 3.3 million as bilateral partnership gifts. This is the largest amount sent from India to any country.
But the supply as per the purchase deal is now stopped as Serum could not ramp up its production, mainly due to US’s restriction on raw materials export.
Bangladesh first received the vaccine on January 21. The mass vaccination started on February 7. The country was supposed to get 5 million shots every month.
The DGHS in the order said the suspension of giving the first dose will be enforced temporarily and the decision came from the Director General.
