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Add BSMMU, IEDCR in Covid vaccine trial process


Published : 18 Sep 2020 09:50 PM | Updated : 19 Sep 2020 11:51 AM

The Covid-19 National Technical Advisory Committee in Bangladesh has recommended the government to include 'appropriate and skilful' organisations in the vaccine trial process in the country.

The government earlier allowed China’s Sinovac to conduct the phase 3 trial in Bangladesh following an Icddr,b proposal.

The national committee suggested that the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) should be included with the Icddr,b in the trial process. 

The committee in a statement after their regular meeting on Thursday also urged the government to finalise the vaccine deployment plan ‘now’.

They have also recommended the government to keep in touch with all the countries working on the development of Covid-19 vaccine.

They also suggested paying money in advance as all the countries are vying for the vaccines.

Prof Dr Mohammad Sahidullah, president of the committee, chaired the meeting held on Thursday.

On vaccine deployment plan, the committee suggested that the vaccination plan has to be institutionalised and the vaccine deployment plan needed to be finalized now.

There should also be arrangements for follow-up of adverse reactions of the vaccine, the committee said.

The other recommendations of the committee include Taking steps to raise public awareness for increasing the number of Covid-19 test, displaying the list of sample collection booths in public, making efforts to upgrade the quality of sample collection and test, providing safe accommodation to health workers for the purpose of quarantine after serving duties in hospitals, preparing a proper list of deceased health workers and submitting it to the ministry concerned to ensure that their families get grants.

The committee also recommended intensifying awareness activities among mass people to ensure their active participation in the prevention of Covid-19, speedy implementation of the health directorate’s campaign on using face masks and celebrating Durga Puja on a limited scale in compliance with hygiene rules.

As of Friday, the government confirmed 345,805 Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh. Of them, 4,881 died and 252,335 recovered.