Vaccination kicks off in B’desh, Hasina thanks India for 2 mn doses

By Sumi Khan Dhaka, Jan 28 : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday thanked the government of India for the gift of two million doses of Covid-19 vaccine while virtually inaugurating the mass vaccination drive in the country.
A nurse named Runu Veronica Costa was administered the first vaccine dose in Bangladesh at the Kurmitola General Hospital (KGH) in Dhaka, watched virtually by the Prime Minister. Hasina also watched four others take the jab, before 21 more were vaccinated.
When many countries are waiting to begin vaccinating their citizens against Covid-19, Bangladesh has successfully launched the campaign with its limited resources, Hasina said.
Hasina said, “We have been able to procure the vaccine in time. Today is a historic day for Bangladesh, as many countries in the world are yet to start inoculating their populations. But we’ve done it despite having a dense population and limited economic power. Today it has been proved that we work for the welfare of the people.” The Covid-19 pandemic has already claimed more than 8,000 lives in Bangladesh.
Earlier in the day, Hasina told the nation that Bangladesh will get 6.80 crore vaccines for 20 per cent of its population, which means 3.40 crore people, from the WHO Covax facility. The vaccines will be preserved in 64 district EPI stores and 483 EPI stores across the country, she added.