ED: The clock is ticking

It is alarming to learn that, assuming our vaccination rollout continues at the same pace as it has, the stock for the Covishield, the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India, will run out within 10 days.

However, there may be some hope, as there is talk of Bangladesh receiving the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine doses from China before Eid, while Bangladesh is also eyeing possible procurement from Russia for the Sputnik V vaccine.

While this appears to be good news, at the current juncture, with new strains of the coronavirus wreaking absolute havoc and forcing the government to call for extended lockdowns, Bangladesh simply cannot afford to rely on hope and speculations with regard to vaccines.

We now must work to guarantee that we continue to have sufficient vaccines at our disposal.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had pledged to deliver vaccines to the people of Bangladesh at any cost. As the country runs out of its current stock of vaccines, now is the time for the PM and her government to stay true to the promises made, and indeed ensure that Bangladesh does not go through a period of no vaccination.

This means looking at any and all feasible sources for the procurement of vaccines, be they the two sources mentioned above, or any other. As has been said time and time again, vaccination remains the most viable solution out of this pandemic. Let a lack of vaccines never be the reason for Bangladesh to regress in its fight against it.