Let’s see what can be done to ensure vaccines for all: PM

Taking a swipe at those who are criticizing the government over its Covid-19 vaccine management, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday urged them to have patience and see what the government can do to ensure vaccines for all.

“I would like to tell those who criticise [the govt] to have patience and see what we can do. Why do you criticise?” she said, adding that the government will ensure vaccines for all, reports UNB.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing a virtual discussion arranged, marking the 72nd foundation anniversary of Bangladesh Awami League.

The Prime Minister joined the event from Ganabhaban, while other AL leaders from the party’s Bangabandhu Avenue central office.

“We’re taking effective measures so that everybody gets vaccines. We’ll do that,” Hasina said.

She said they started contacting every country where vaccine development was at the research level. “Many countries in the world could not go for vaccination yet, but Bangladesh started the inoculation drive collecting vaccines.”

She said India banned vaccine export following the massive transmission of coronavirus there. Though Bangladesh fell in trouble to some extent due to the export ban, it later started procuring vaccines from other sources, she said.

“I get stunned when I see those who were given two doses of vaccines on priority basis now criticise us,” said the Prime Minister.

She asked the critics to try to understand the global situation over the vaccine issue. “Bangladesh earlier procured the vaccine at 4 US dollars…now it’s 15 US dollars. The price will go up further in the days to come.”

Hasina said the government has worked out plans so that the vaccines can be produced locally by setting up a vaccine institute here to conduct research in this regard. “We’ll take the measures necessary to develop vaccines in the future by setting up this institute,” she said.