Bangladesh receives polio vaccine doses from Sinovac

Sinovac Foundation, a subsidiary of China’s Sinovac Biotech Limited, has donated 3,83,080 doses of polio vaccine to Bangladesh.

Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain received the donation at a ceremony held on Wednesday morning at the Ministry of Health conference room.

Officials from the Chinese Embassy, including Cultural Counselor Li Shaopeng, and Sinovac Biotech Chief Business Director Li Ning, attended the event along with other guests.

A total of 76,616 vials, containing 3,83,080 doses, have already been delivered to the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) repository.

The Health Minister expressed gratitude to China and Sinovac Foundation for the support during what he described as a challenging period for Bangladesh’s vaccine needs. He said China has once again shown its commitment as a reliable partner of Bangladesh.

He added that while measles vaccination coverage has improved, diseases such as dengue, polio, and hantavirus remain public health concerns. He noted that vaccination programs for polio and tuberculosis are continuing, and nearly all children aged 6 months to 5 years have already received measles vaccination, with remaining children to be covered soon.

The minister also announced that the Vitamin A Plus campaign will begin soon. He added that field hospitals are being prepared for dengue management and may be expanded if needed.

Sinovac Biotech Chief Business Director Li Ning said the company is proud to support Bangladesh’s national immunization program. He confirmed that the donated vaccines are WHO pre-qualified.

He emphasized that polio is a highly infectious disease and vaccination remains the most effective prevention method. He said the donation will help strengthen Bangladesh’s EPI program and contribute to polio eradication efforts.

He also reaffirmed Sinovac’s commitment to continued cooperation with Bangladesh to improve public health and strengthen bilateral relations.