Covid-19 vaccine: Buet, Brac University to receive UK fund to increase access

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and Brac University will receive British fund to work on a project aimed at increasing access to vaccines for Covid-19 in Bangladesh and other developing nations.

The universities will implement the project in collaboration with the University of Birmingham of the United Kingdom.

The UK government will fund 20 projects worth £7.2 million to address the challenges faced by some of the world's most vulnerable people during Covid-19, according to the British High Commission in Dhaka.

The University of Birmingham working with Brac University and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology will lead a project to increase vaccine access in developing economies, such as Bangladesh, by researching more effective ways of storing and transporting vaccines at recommended temperatures from manufacture to the point of use. 

Weak supply chains with inconsistent temperature control can reduce the effectiveness of vaccines by up to 25%, so this vital project will help fast track COVID-19 vaccine delivery in developing countries once one is found.

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Bringing together scientists and researchers from across the world, 20 new projects will benefit from a share of £7.2 million of UK government funding to develop new technology and processes to address the challenges faced by some of the world’s most vulnerable people, such as refugees and children.

The projects will be implemented in partnership with some of the UK’s leading research institutions including Oxford.

"Defeating coronavirus is a truly global endeavour, which is why we’re backing Britain’s scientists and researchers to work with their international counterparts to find tech solutions to treat and combat this virus around the world," said British Business Secretary Alok Sharma.

"The research projects we are backing today will ensure that we equip some of the most vulnerable communities with the resources they need to tackle Covid-19 and build their long-term resilience to respond to future pandemics, making us all safer," he said.