The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) yesterday (27 May 2021) approved emergency use of Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in the country.
The regulator has given Emergency Use Authorization ( EUA) after all necessary examinations by the committee, a press release, signed by Maj Gen Md Mahbubur Rahman, Director General of DGDA said.
Produced by Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium NV, this is the fourth COVID-19 vaccine approved for emergency use in Bangladesh.
The other approved vaccines are: Covishield produced by Serum Institute of India, Sputnik V produced by Generium Joint Stock Company of Russia, and Sinopharm produced by Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co. Ltd of China.
In another decision, Bangladesh government has approved the purchase of 15 million doses of the Chinese Sinopharm Vaccine at US$10 a dose over the next three months starting from June. Besides, Russia has shown interest to export 60 million doses of Sputnik V to Bangladesh, primarily this jab was offered to Bangladesh for US$9.95 each, however, the negotiation is still in the process.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh reported 31 deaths and 1,358 new Corona Positive cases in the country on Friday (28 May 2021). The death toll in Bangladesh has gone up to 12,511 and the total number of infected people is 7,96,343.
The 9.30 percent of the 14,606 samples collected in 24 hours were tested positive over the last 24 hours while the infection rate was only 2.30 percent just on 08 February this year as during the late winter season the rate started decreasing sharply.