China donates 380,000 polio vaccines to Bangladesh

The Sinovac Foundation has donated 383,080 doses of polio vaccine to Bangladesh's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It is an arm of the Chinese vaccine producer Sinovac Biotech Limited. 

A handover ceremony took place at the ministry’s conference room at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday morning.

Officials at the event said the shipment included 76,616 vials of poliomyelitis vaccine, inactivated sabin strains (sIPV), all of which have already been delivered to the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) storage facility for later distribution to vaccination centres across the country based on demand.

Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain expressed gratitude to China for the donation, describing the country as an economic friend that has once again stood by Bangladesh.

He explained that while the government has managed the measles vaccine situation, it now faces challenges from diseases like dengue, polio, and hantavirus.

The minister, however, claimed that there is no shortage of vaccines for polio or tuberculosis and the vaccination drives are ongoing.

"Nearly all children aged six months to five years have received the measles vaccine, with the remaining children expected to be covered soon."
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He also announced that a "Vitamin A Capsule Campaign" will begin shortly.

On dengue preparedness, Sakhawat said field hospitals are being set up and will be expanded if needed.

Sinovac Biotech Limited Chief Business Director Li Ning said the company is proud to support Bangladesh’s national vaccination programme and is delighted to provide the WHO-prequalified sIPV vaccines.

He added that Sinovac is committed to standing by Bangladesh to improve public health and strengthen the friendship between the two nations.

Senior officials from the Health Services Division, Second Secretary of the Chinese Embassy Huang Moucong, and Sinovac’s Head of International Regulatory Wang Peng attended the event.

Representatives from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the EPI, and the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) were also present at the ceremony.

The Sinovac-developed vaccine achieved World Health Organisation pre-qualification in 2022 and is currently supplied to different international bodies, including the United Nations, as part of global polio eradication efforts.