‘Chinese Sinovac company wants to do Phase 3 trial of Covid-19 vaccine in Bangladesh’

The Sinovac Biotech company of China has applied for the Phase 3 trial of their Covid-19 vaccine in Bangladesh.

Md Abdul Mannan, the secretary of the Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health made this comment at a meeting on the coronavirus vaccine at the ministry today, said a press release.

"Initially, the company said it would complete the trial among 4,200 healthcare workers in seven Covid-19 dedicated hospitals across the country. But the government is also aware of other vaccines from other countries, including the one developed by University of Oxford in the United Kingdom," he added.

Mentioning that Bangladesh will get benefits to get the vaccine, the health secretary added, "Bill Gates' Gavi Foundation has listed Bangladesh. They have asked for the presence of a Bangladeshi representative at their next meeting in September. So after the discovery of the vaccine, some vaccines will also come to the country through Gavi in advance."

It is to be noted that, currently six companies of the world are in the Phase 3 trial of the Covid-19 vaccine.

"If the trial is given in time in the country, it may take at least six months for the Chinese Sinovac vaccine to be administered to the general population of the country. The vaccine will be given first to healthcare workers aged between 18-59," the scientific officer said in the meeting.

The speakers also expressed the view that after the Phase 3 trial, it can be available for all.