Govt approves direct purchase of Covid-19 vaccine

The government on Wednesday approved in principle the direct procurement of Covid-19 vaccines at the 24th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.

Law Minister Anisul Haque chaired the meeting in the absence of its head Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal.

After the meeting, Additional Secretary to the Cabinet Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal informed the decision to reporters.

Asked why the purchase was being made without a tender, he said the proposal was made to procure the Covid-19 vaccine directly for urgent need of the state.

The proposal had been made by the Health Services Division.

“This committee has just given the approval in principle to meet the emergency needs of the state. But when any procurement deal will be final, it will come to the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase for its final approval,” the secretary further said.

He said the approval was given in compliance with the Provision 76 of the Public Procurement Rule-2008.

Earlier, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said at a news conference after a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that distribution will be done in line with World Health Organization’s (WHO) protocols that determine who will get the vaccine first.

The government has already allocated Tk735.77 crore to purchase the vaccine, he said, adding: “People will get it for free.”

Earlier at a cabinet meeting, the government had decided to ensure free distribution of 30 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine expected to be available for patients in January.

On November 4, Bangladesh inked an agreement to get those 30 million doses from India's Serum Institute. Once the vaccine is developed, Bangladesh will get it via the institute.

The vaccine will be available for 15 million people, as two shots are needed per person.

The process of importing the vaccine is expected to start in January, Health Minister Zahid Maleque had said at the signing ceremony.

Bangladesh will also get 68 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine from the Gavi Vaccine Alliance.

To ensure smooth financing, the government has already sent letters to donor agencies seeking loan assistance from abroad.