Vaccine deal will be signed with China soon, health minister says

Health Minister Zahid Maleque has said Bangladesh will soon sign a contract with China to import the coronavirus vaccine made by China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation, commonly known as Sinopharm.

Negotiations with China to import vaccines have progressed significantly, the minister said during the virtual inauguration of a 150-bed asthma centre at the National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital (NIDCH) on Wednesday, reports bdnews24.com.

“We have already signed a contract with Russia and are in talks with China. We’ll make a deal with Sinopharm soon,” he said.

The government and Beximco Pharmaceuticals are continuing negotiations with India to secure the AstraZeneca vaccine, said Maleque.

The NIDCH’s new unit will broaden the scope for coronavirus patients to seek medical treatment.

“This has strengthened us to combat against the coronavirus. The hospital has better medical equipment for infectious diseases. The staff are trained and courageous and can provide better service,” Maleque said.

A signage of Sinopharm is seen at the 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), following the COVID-19 outbreak, in Beijing, China September 5, 2020. ReutersA signage of Sinopharm is seen at the 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), following the COVID-19 outbreak, in Beijing, China September 5, 2020. ReutersRecently the spread of coronavirus infection is showing a downtrend but health guidelines should be maintained for some time, he said.

“We have noticed that the number of patients has dropped, with half of hospital beds now empty. There are many reasons behind the drop. People are wearing masks these days and following the health protocol. This is a ray of hope for us.”

The pathogen will spread quickly again if people ignore the health restrictions, Maleque said, citing India as an example.

“We don’t want Bangladesh to face a similar situation.”