Shawdesh Desk:

The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) has approved Chinese Covid-19 vaccine ‘CoronaVac’, manufactured by Sinovac Life Science Co Ltd, for emergency use in Bangladesh.

The DGDA has given the approval following an application submitted by M/S Incepta Vaccine Limited on June 3, said a DGDA handout on Sunday.

M/s Incepta Vaccine Limited is the local agent of the vaccine.

The Chinese vaccine earlier got approval from the World Health Organization (WHO). It is applicable for people aged above 18.

National Medicinal Products Administration (NMPA) of China approved the vaccine on February 9 and it was later approved for emergency use in 22 more countries, said the media release.

It is 5th vaccine that got approval for emergency use in Bangladesh.

Health authorities will administer two doses of the vaccine to a person, and its second dose can be administered within two to four weeks after getting the first dose.

Earlier, five lakh China’s Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine doses, donated by the Chinese government to Bangladesh, arrived in Dhaka on May 12.