Bangladesh top recipient of Covid vaccines under COVAX

Bangladesh remains the top recipient of Covid-19 vaccine doses under COVAX in one year as UNICEF delivered over 190 million doses of vaccines to Bangladesh.

The vaccines came through COVAX, the global initiative co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the World Health Organization with UNICEF as a key delivery partner.

COVAX accounts for more than 62 percent of doses received by the country, according to UNICEF Bangladesh on Tuesday.

COVID-19 vaccinations started in Bangladesh in February 2021. UNICEF delivered the first COVAX shipment of vaccines to Bangladesh on June 1, 2021 at a time when only 4.0 percent of the population in the country were fully vaccinated.

A year on, thanks to a strong partnership between the government, the World Health Organization, UNICEF and other partners, with two doses Bangladesh has fully vaccinated 69 percent of its population– a staggering 117 million people, said UNICEF.

“Bangladesh’s ability to absorb and roll out COVID-19 vaccines is a testament to what can be achieved when there is political commitment and an equitable supply of vaccines. The success in getting millions of vaccines quickly and safely into arms in every corner of the country has been nothing short of remarkable,” said Mr Sheldon Yett, UNICEF representative to Bangladesh.

A COVID-19 booster dose campaign is planned for June.

“Bangladesh with 69 percent fully vaccinated population is close to achieve the global benchmark of 70 percent fully vaccinated population by June 2022. The success could not have been possible without COVAX support," said Dr Bardan Jung Rana, WHO representative to Bangladesh.

The ongoing pace of vaccination gives us a hope to see the end of COVID-19 as a global health emergency. Let us also not forget that the pandemic is not over anywhere until it’s over everywhere, the WHO representative to Bangladesh added.