The US government has donated Pfizer pediatric COVID-19 vaccines to Bangladeshi children aged 5-11 years.
Through the donation, the US Embassy in Dhaka joined the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Ministry of Education, and international partners to launch a countrywide vaccination campaign.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque and Education Minister Dipu Moni inaugurated the test run of a national campaign in the capital on Thursday to administer the COVID-19 vaccines to children.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas joined the programme.
UNICEF Country Representative Sheldon Yett, government officials and representatives of international organisations attended the event.
The first group of young Bangladeshis received their first shots there, said a US Embassy statement.
It said, the US has recently donated over 30 lakh pediatric doses of Pfizer vaccines and committed to donating a total of over four crore pediatric doses.
US support for this new children’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign includes over $7.3 million and comes alongside other assistance from COVAX.
“This is a remarkable step for kids, for parents, and the entire nation. We hope these vaccines enable young Bangladeshis to return to more normal lives to pursue their studies and dreams more fully,” said Ambassador Haas.
The US has donated over 75 million (7.5cr) doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Bangladesh, accounting for more than two-thirds of all international COVID-19 vaccine donations to Bangladesh to date, added the statement.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir/Golam Rosul
