Bangladesh receives 5 million doses of virus vaccine

Bangladesh received 5 million doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine from an Indian producer on Monday. Under a three-way agreement, Bangladesh plans to buy 30 million doses from the Serum Institute of India in phases.

A Bangladeshi company, Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd., received Monday's shipment as distributor for the South Asian country.Dhaka received 2 million doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine last Thursday as a gift from India, while Monday's doses were purchased.

The vaccine will be given first to front-line workers, including doctors and nurses.The government is training thousands of volunteers to administer the vaccine.Since March, Bangladesh has recorded more than 8,000 deaths from coronavirus.