Inefficiency in preparing documents related to vaccine purchase from China and Russia is causing a bit of delay in getting them, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said today. The minister also said health ministry is behind the delay in this case.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines operated four chartered flights to India from China since May 17 to send different medical equipment including oxygen cylinder and oxygen concentrator to the neighbouring country.

Three Bangladeshis who returned from India through Benapole land port 14 days ago have tested positive for Covid-19.

The Indian Council of Medical Research on Wednesday issued an advisory on its website for Covid-19 home testing, where an individual can test themselves without the presence of a medical professional.

Thirty-six people have died from Covid-19 during 24 hours (till 8am today), according to a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged district magistrates to collect data on Covid-19 infection among children, amidst experts’ warning about the possibility of a third wave that could hit the younger population as the virus is mutating.

US State Department Coordinator for Global Covid Response and Health Security Gayle E Smith has said the United States is going to be the largest sharer of vaccines, putting 80 million additional doses into the mix.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Wednesday that Covid-19 vaccines are proving effective against a variant that has spread like wildfire in India and denied the government was being lax on travel from hotspots.

Last month the World Health Organization urged African nations not to destroy expired doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine after several countries received doses from India with a very short shelf life. But this week, WHO reversed its position and said that the vaccines should be destroyed.

At least 133 more Bangladeshis, who were stuck in India, returned home through the Gede-Darshana border in Chuadanga today.

The Central Medicine Store Depot (CMSD) will buy 40 oxygen generator machines through direct purchase method to tackle the growing oxygen demand with the spike in coronavirus cases.

The Indian government today accepted a recommendation from a committee of experts, allowing Covid-19 patients to receive vaccines three months after recovery.

Thirty-seven people have died from Covid-19 in 24 hours (till 8am today), according to a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Singapore summoned the Indian High Commissioner P Kumaran today and conveyed strong objection to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's comments that a variant of Covid-19 found in Singapore was particularly harmful for children, and could cause a third wave of infections in India.

Bangladesh will purchase Covid-19 vaccines from China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm).

India is unlikely to resume major exports of COVID-19 vaccines until at least October as it diverts shots for domestic use, three government sources said, a longer-than-expected delay set to worsen supply shortages from the global COVAX initiative.

A total of 1.06 lakh doses of Pfizer vaccine will arrive in Bangladesh on June 2, Health Minister Zahid Maleque has told The Daily Star.

Bangladesh has requested India to supply AstraZeneca vaccine as the stock of available vaccine will run out soon, affecting the inoculation campaign in the country.

A Spanish study on mixing COVID-19 vaccines has found that giving a dose of Pfizer's drug to people who already received a first shot of AstraZeneca vaccine is highly safe and effective, preliminary results showed on Tuesday.

Bangladesh has requested Canada to provide two million shots of AstraZeneca vaccine on an emergency basis for inoculating people with the second dose, as the prospect of getting vaccines from India is now very low.