Over 3 lakh pieces of Polio vaccine donated by Sinovac arrived Dhaka

The country has received more than 3,83,000 doses of polio vaccine as a donation from Sinovac Biotech through its subsidiary, the Sinovac Foundation, in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s immunisation programme.

The donation was formally handed over at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Health conference room in Dhaka on Wednesday morning ( May 13).

Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain officially received the consignment in the presence of Chinese Embassy Cultural Counsellor Li Shaopeng and Sinovac Biotech Chief Business Director Li Ning.

According to the Health Ministry, the shipment contains 3,83,080 doses of polio vaccine stored in 76,616 vials, which have already reached the storage facility of Bangladesh’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI).

The vaccine, branded as “Poliomyelitis Vaccine, Vero Cell, Inactivated Sabin Strain (sIPV),” received prequalification approval from the World Health Organization in 2022, certifying it as a safe and effective vaccine under international standards.

Speaking at the event, Health Minister Sakhawat Hossain said China has remained a reliable development partner of Bangladesh for decades and has extended support during different crises since the country’s independence in 1971.

He noted that although arrangements for measles vaccines have been made, Bangladesh still faces potential threats from diseases such as dengue, polio and hantavirus, expressing hope for continued Chinese assistance in the health sector.

The minister also said Bangladesh aims to begin domestic vaccine production in the near future. Until that capability is achieved, he said, international cooperation will remain crucial for ensuring child immunisation and disease prevention.

During his remarks, the health minister criticised the previous government’s handling of the healthcare system, alleging failures in managing measles vaccination campaigns and immunisation programmes properly.

He claimed that although Vitamin A campaigns are supposed to be held twice a year, the government failed to organise them in both 2024 and 2025. He added that sufficient Vitamin A capsules are expected to arrive in the country by June.

When asked whether those responsible would be held accountable, the minister said the matter would be reviewed later, adding that the government’s immediate priority is to ensure disease prevention and public health protection.

Meanwhile, Sinovac official Li Ning expressed hope that the donated vaccines would further strengthen Bangladesh’s EPI activities and contribute significantly to the country’s efforts to eradicate polio.