Staff-Reporter: The Department of Drug Administration has given clearence to the corona vaccine imported from the Seram Institute of India saying it is suitable for human application.

Tuesday (January 26), Director General of the Department of Drug Administration, Major General. Mahbubur Rahman has confirmed this information.

Earlier on Monday (January 25) at around 11 am, an Air India flight arrived at Shahjalal International Airport with a consignment of 5 million corona vaccine, purchased from the Seram Institute of India. After the arrival, it wastaken directly to Beximco's Tongi warehouse. Later it will be distributed as per the demand of the government.

Nazmul Hasan Papon, managing director of Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited and president of the BCB, said Beximco was not bringing any vaccine commercially.

He added that Beximco will supply to 64 districts as per the instructions of the government. They will also make sure that there is no break og cold chain anywhere.

On Monday (January 25), Health Minister Zahid Malek said the Oxford vaccine would come to Dhaka in six phases at a cost of Rs 5 million each. He also said that the vaccines would be tested in government drug laboratories before being distributed across the country.

The 24 people interested in getting inoculated voluntarily in the first phase are mostly health workers. In this regard, the journalists asked the health minister and the secretary - when will they get vaccinated themselves?"

"Many VIPs are trying to get vaccinated but we are not giving them," The Health Misister replied the reporters. "We will give the frontline workers first, then we will all take. I will take it too."

Meanwhile, Director General of the Department of Health Prof ABM Khurshid Alam said that after 24 people on the first day, around 500 health workers will be vaccinated on the second day.

He also said that the registration app for corona vaccine will be handed over to the ICT ministry on Monday (January 25).