National

6.34 lakh more vaccine jabs arrive from Japan

Bangladesh has received 6,34,920 more doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from Japan under COVAX facilities.

A flight of Cathay Pacific carrying the jabs landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 7:15 pm on Saturday.

Maidul Islam Pradhan, the public relations officer of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, confirmed the matter.

Dr Shahriar Sazzad, the assistant director of the Directorate General of Health Services, said the officials of the ministry, the directorate, and the Japanese Embassy here received the consignment.  

Japan has, so far, sent around 30.50 lakh doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Bangladesh out of three million jabs it pledged to give under COVAX facilities.

COVAX, however, is a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines directed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the World Health Organization.

MU/SU