6 lakh more doses of vaccine coming from Japan this afternoon

The third consignment out of 3 million doses of AstraZeneca Vaccine under WHO-COVAX mechanism left Japan yesterday for Bangladesh.

A flight of All Nippon Airways (ANA) carrying 6,16,780 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine departed from the Narita airport at 9:15 pm (Japan local time), Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo said.

The consignment will reach Dhaka this afternoon by Cathay Pacific, it said, adding that the total amount of dispatched vaccines from Japan as of now stands at 16,43,300, with today’s consignment.

On July 24, Bangladesh received 2,45,200 doses of Astra Zeneca vaccine as the first consignment from Japan under the COVAX facilities.

Later, on July 31, Japan sent 7,81,320 doses of such jabs as the second consignment.

COVAX, a global alliance, is a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines directed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.