Bangladesh approves emergency use of Pfizer Covid vaccine

PBC News:  The Bangladesh government has approved emergency use of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer, a US pharmaceutical company.

The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) announced the approval through a press release on Thursday afternoon. The press release was signed by Director General of the DGDA Major General Md Mahbubur Rahman.

The press release said the emergency use authorisation (EUA) was issued as per recommendation of the Committee for the Evaluation of Drug, Investigational Drug, Vaccine and Medical Device in case of public health emergency.

Produced by Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium NV, this is the fourth Covid-19 vaccine approved for emergency use in Bangladesh.

The other approved vaccines are: Covishield produced by Serum Institute of India, Sputnik V produced by Generium Joint Stock Company of Russia, and Sinopharm produced by Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co. Ltd of China.

The press release further said the Pfizer vaccine can be used for people aged 12 years and above. In Bangladesh, the vaccine will be used among the selected age group of people according to the deployment plan of the government. The vaccine is consisted of two doses. The second dose will be administered three to four weeks after administering the first dose. It is preserved (-) 90 degree Celsius to (-) 60 degree Celsius temperature.

However, the vaccine remains stable for five days in 2 degree Celsius to 8 degree Celsius temperature and two hours in 30 degree Celsius temperature.