$2 COVID-19 vaccine in India to cost $5.25 in Bangladesh: Zafrullah Chowdhury

[Black_cats]

$2 COVID-19 vaccine in India to cost $5.25 in Bangladesh: Zafrullah Chowdhury

Staff Correspondent
Updated: 5 January 2021, 17:23

An employee in personal protective equipment (PPE) removes vials of AstraZeneca's COVISHIELD, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine from a visual inspection machine inside a lab at Serum Institute of India, in Pune, India, on 30 November 2020Reuters
Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury has raised questions on why Bangladesh will pay more money than India to get the COVID-19 vaccine from Serum Institute in India.

“India is getting COVID-19 vaccine at $2 per does, for what we are spending $5.25,” he said.
He raised question on who is pocketing the extra amount of the money.

The Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder made the remarks at a human chain in front of the National Press Club in the capital on Monday.

The human chain was organised protesting at the rape of a student by the principal of Meherunnesa School in Pangashia union of Patuakhali’s Dumki upazila and demanding punishment to the rapist. Muktijuddher Chetona Bastobayon Parishad organised the protest programmne.

Zafrullah Chowdhury said Bangladesh is giving Tk 600 crore (6 billion) to the Serum Institute of India, but if world’s top 10 scientists were hired at a salary of Tk 1 crore (10 million) per month, it would have cost the country only Tk 120 crore (1.2 billion) in a year. More scientists would have been created here. And, it is certain that vaccine would have been developed within a year.

Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder and one of the trustees, Zafrullah Chowdhury, speaks at a press conference in DhakaFile photo

He said if local company, Globe Biotech, was given a subsidy of Tk 50 crore (500 million) they could work with the local scientists. There are more companies too and Bangladesh could have developed the vaccine at its own financing.

Earlier, on Monday, speaking to Prothom Alo, health care division secretary Abdul Mannan said the agreement signed with Serum Institute to get COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford is a G2G agreement.

“The agreement says we’ll begin vaccination when India will begin. We’ll get that whenever India will get. We’ll buy the vaccine at the price India will buy. If they can’t give us that, they will have to return the money. There are many other stringent clauses in the agreement,” the secretary further said.

$2 COVID-19 vaccine in India to cost $5.25 in Bangladesh: Zafrullah Chowdhury

Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury has raised questions on why Bangladesh will pay more money than India to get the COVID-19 vaccine from Serum Institute

en.prothomalo.com

 

[Chhatrapati]

Because our government gave them subsidies to set up the manufacturing plants. They operate from India, Serum institute vaccine costs around $12 in India if you buy separately. So, what's the issue?

 

[pikkuboss]

This buddha has gone mad. We are getting the vaccine cheap because govt has subsidised the serum institute to manufacture there vaccines. If we export these vaccines to UAE/Gulf, UK, EU etc, we will get $10+ per vaccine. Why the hell do we have to sell to Bangladesh at subsidised price? I think we should call off this deal.

 

[IndiaIsBad]

Because India is adding the cost of vaccination of illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators

 

[pikkuboss]

Because India is adding the cost of vaccination of illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators

 

[padamchen]

Guys Bangladesh is not a rich country. They have all the right to question the price they buy a product for from their national funds. Don't we do the same? Be it planes or guns or helicopters.

Cheers, Doc

 

[Black_cats]

The issue Dr. Zafrulla raised is not just $2 and $5.25 but he wanted to say the money we are giving to India with it either we could hire some of the world’s best scientist to produce the vaccine in Bangladesh which would help to create more scientists in Bangladesh or if 50 cr taka as subsidies would have given to local company, Globe Biotech they could work with local scientists to produce the vaccine. Many other local companies could produce it as well. All these could be done well within a year.

 

[manga]

The issue Dr. Zafrulla raised is not just $2 and $5.25 but he wanted to say the money we are giving to India with it either we could hire some of the world’s best scientist to produce the vaccine in Bangladesh which would help to create more scientists in Bangladesh or if 50 cr taka as subsidies would have given to local company, Globe Biotech they could work with local scientists to produce the vaccine. Many other local companies could produce it as well. All these could be done well within a year.

Fair point, but these things dont happen overnight.
Serum is a vaccine giant which was already providing vaccines to world even before corona. Its said that 70 percent of worlds vaccines are from serum.
Even when the trials just began for phase 1 of oxford vaccines serums started manufacturing the stock, and risking their investments. If at all the trials had fail they were ready to risk their investments.

Besides article is not accurate. Price at whch indian govt is going to buy is 3 $ and further govt is giving it free. And serum is planning to sell in retail at around 14 $. So i think bangladesh got a very good deal at 5 $.

 

[kris]

Because our government gave them subsidies to set up the manufacturing plants. They operate from India, Serum institute vaccine costs around $12 in India if you buy separately. So, what's the issue?

Correct
The price is for indian government. Not sure in Bangladesh also joined with india in sponsoring serum institute of india from the beginning..
Second, indian government is giving the vaccine free for its citizens.( Hopefully Bangladesh too). Our bulk orders reduce the cost.
Third, they are not counting transport charges and stringent maintenance requirements. (Here indian govt is taking care)
Scientists and institutions are not build over a day....
Money won't buy you time ever

The issue Dr. Zafrulla raised is not just $2 and $5.25 but he wanted to say the money we are giving to India with it either we could hire some of the world’s best scientist to produce the vaccine in Bangladesh which would help to create more scientists in Bangladesh or if 50 cr taka as subsidies would have given to local company, Globe Biotech they could work with local scientists to produce the vaccine. Many other local companies could produce it as well. All these could be done well within a year.

Time and expertise... Both are short may be

 

[Destranator]

Because India is adding the cost of vaccination of illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators

Wow...thanks for only adding $0.00.

 

[EasyNow]

The issue Dr. Zafrulla raised is not just $2 and $5.25 but he wanted to say the money we are giving to India with it either we could hire some of the world’s best scientist to produce the vaccine in Bangladesh which would help to create more scientists in Bangladesh or if 50 cr taka as subsidies would have given to local company, Globe Biotech they could work with local scientists to produce the vaccine. Many other local companies could produce it as well. All these could be done well within a year.

I think it's just unnecessary politics.

50cr taka is nothing to develop a vaccine - that's £4.3m pounds today - USA invested $9b to develop vaccines! What a ridiculous statement from Mr Zafrulla that we should have just made our own.

Even India couldn't develop its own vaccine, Russia, China and several others are still awaiting worldwide approval. He's just firing in the air.

We are lucky if we get a supply of the Oxford vaccine in good time - Indian states will be fighting each other for access to early batches.

 

[Black_cats]

I think it's just unnecessary politics.

50cr taka is nothing to develop a vaccine - that's £4.3m pounds today - USA invested $9b to develop vaccines! What a ridiculous statement from Mr Zafrulla that we should have just made our own.

Even India couldn't develop its own vaccine, Russia, China and several others are still awaiting worldwide approval. He's just firing in the air.

We are lucky if we get a supply of the Oxford vaccine in good time - Indian states will be fighting each other for access to early batches.

I believe he meant producing the vaccine of the already recognized one.

 

[VikingRaider]

Bangladeshi life is more valuable than Indonesian life. So Chinese vaccine trial was rejected by our wise govt, I guess.

Now elite Bangladeshi will get the vaccine in almost more than double price .

Are we made of money ( so spend double amount) and destined to lick the ball and sh.it hole of India? Nice submissive job,I am feeling disgust.

Rejecting Chinese vaccine trial on precious Bengalis was meaningless , honestly speaking !

Ps : Only 30 millions of doses , so I guess 15 millions of elite people will get the vaccine as priority.

And the rest 150-155 millions are rats , so they can be left to suffer !

Same as farmers are left to suffer, because the mo fos are importing onion from India , while India already stopped exporting onion when we were in serious crisis, and I am sure next year India will stop exporting onion too.

Please stop making Bangladesh the waste basket of India ! Your all achievement will be trashed by people and you will soon be dragged down on street like BNP.

No one comes to rule forever . Alliance with BABU NAGORI and Hefajat is not going to save you forever.

 

[SpaceMan18]

Lmao I like how India trash talks Bangladeshis ,but when a Brit trash talks them they start naming random American Indian CEOs to prove that India isn't a backward nation lmao.

Both Bangladesh and India are shit , none is good both need a wake up call

 

[EasyNow]

I believe he meant producing the vaccine of the already recognized one.

That's not really clear from what he's saying.

said if local company, Globe Biotech, was given a subsidy of Tk 50 crore (500 million) they could work with the local scientists. There are more companies too and Bangladesh could have developed the vaccine at its own financing.

He does talk about 600m taka earlier too tbf so you might have a point. But the whole thing is big talk. Why would be spent even 600m taking a risk developing our own when we can buy it guaranteed at that price?