PM receives first dose of Covid vaccine

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine at her official residence Ganabhaban on Thursday afternoon.

Prime Minister's Press Wing confirmed it to the media.

Earlier on 24 February, Sheikh Rehana, the youngest daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and sister of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, took the vaccine shot.

Sheikh Hasina had inaugurated the Covid-19 vaccination in the country virtually in the capital's Kurmitola General Hospital on 27 January.

The first shot of the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India was administered to a nurse, Runu Veronica Costa, at Kurmitola General Hospital.

Then 25 more people, including two doctors, a traffic policeman and an army brigadier, received the vaccine at the hospital.

The next day 541 frontline fighters received the jab.

On February 7, Bangladesh launched a nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive.

As many as 47, 55,911 people got registered till 2:30pm on Thursday for vaccines and a total of 35,81,169 people have received the jab till Thursday.

The country has so far received 90 lakh vaccine doses as part of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding signed on 5 November last year and a subsequent agreement on 13 December last year among Bangladesh government, Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Serum Institute of India.

Bangladesh has procured three crore doses of the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccines. Besides, the Indian government has sent 20 lakh doses as gifts.

The country will get more vaccines under the COVAX programme, led by the World Health Organisation and the Gavi, vaccine alliance.