The Sinovac Foundation, a subsidiary of the leading Chinese vaccine manufacturer Sinovac Biotech Limited, has donated 383,080 doses of polio vaccine to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The contribution aims to bolster and accelerate Bangladesh’s ongoing Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI).
Health and Family Affairs Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain formally received the vaccine doses at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare conference room at the Secretariat on Wednesday.
The donation consists of 76,616 vials, totalling 383,080 doses of the Poliomyelitis Vaccine, Inactivated Sabin Strains (sIPV). The shipment has already been delivered to the EPI stores, from where it will be distributed to vaccination centres across the country according to local demand. This specific sIPV vaccine, produced by Sinovac, achieved World Health Organization (WHO) pre-qualification in 2022 and is already being supplied to various international organisations, including the United Nation.
Expressing his gratitude to China for the donation during a critical period, Health Minister remarked that China has once again proven itself to be a steadfast “economic friend” to Bangladesh.
The minister noted that while measles vaccinations have been successfully administered to almost all children aged six months to five years, the government faces ongoing challenges from diseases such as dengue, polio, and hanta.
However, he reassured the public that there is currently no shortage of vaccines for polio or tuberculosis. He further announced that a “Vitamin-A capsule campaign” would commence shortly and that field hospitals are prepared to handle dengue cases, with provisions to increase capacity if necessary.
LI Ning, Chief Business Director of Sinovac Biotech Limited, expressed his company’s pride in supporting Bangladesh’s national immunisation efforts. “We are delighted to provide 383,084 doses of Sinovac’s WHO-pre-qualified sIPV vaccine to the Ministry of Health,” he said.
Highlighting that vaccination is the most effective measure against polio, LI Ning added: “We hope this donation will further strengthen Bangladesh’s EPI activities, ensure child protection, and contribute significantly to the country’s polio eradication efforts”.
He reaffirmed Sinovac’s commitment to supporting the public health of Bangladesh and strengthening the friendship between China and Bangladesh in the future.
The ceremony was also attended by Li Shaopeng, Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy; Huang Moucong, Second Secretary of the Chinese Embassy; and Wang Peng, Head of International Regulatory at Sinovac Biotech Limited. Senior officials from the Health Services Division, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the EPI, the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), and other relevant departments of the Ministry of Health were also in attendance.
