Residents worried as Faridpur runs out of Covid-19 jabs

A total of 18,700 people in Faridpur, who have taken their first Covid-19 shot, are now worried about getting their second dose on time as uncertainty looms over the import of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from India amid a shortage in that country.

However, local administration sources claimed said that the second dose of the vaccine will be given to those waiting for the same, as scheduled, reports UNB.

Advocate Shipra Goswami, president of Faridpur Sacheton Nagarik Committee, said, “The government is trying its best to import Covishield from the Serum Institute of India but health authorities should stick to a plan to administer the same."

Faridpur Civil Surgeon Dr Siddiqur Rahman said that some 63,663 people have taken the first dose of Covishield to date. "On the other hand, 44,934 people have already got their second dose in the district. So, the remaining 18,730 people are yet to get their second shot," he told UNB.

“We ran out of Covishield three days back, but have continued to administer the Covid vaccine by sourcing the same from neighbouring districts. Now, we have zero stock of the vaccine,” said Dr Siddiqur.

He also said that the government is trying to best to procure the vaccine doses "and we hope to resume inoculation soon".

Deputy Commissioner Atul Sarkar said, "The government is sincere in its efforts to get the jabs for its people. Already the Covid-19 vaccine from China has arrived and those from other countries will also come soon. All the residents will get the jab as per the government’s policy."

The administration of the first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has remained suspended in Bangladesh since April 26.

Also, the country, the prime recipient of Oxford-AstraZeneca shots, has suspended the registration for Covid-19 jabs due to a shortage of the vaccine amid a delay in the timely arrival of shipments from India.

However, recently two other vaccines, Russia's Sputnik V and China's Sinopharm, got approval from the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) for emergency use in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh launched its vaccination drive on February 7 with Oxford-AstraZeneca doses acquired from India's Serum Institute.