DHAKA, Aug 2, 2021 (BSS) - The third consignment out of 3 million
doses of AstraZeneca Vaccine under WHO-COVAX mechanism left Japan
today for Bangladesh.

  A flight of All Nippon Airways (ANA) carrying 6,16,780 doses of
AstraZeneca vaccine departed from the Narita airport at 21:15 hrs
(Japan local time), Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo said.

  The consignment is set to reach Dhaka on Tuesday by Cathay Pacific,
it said, adding that the total amount of dispatched vaccines from
Japan as of now stands at 16,43,300, with today's consignment.

  On July 24, Bangladesh received 2,45,200 doses of Astra Zeneca
vaccine as the first consignment from Japan under the COVAX
facilities.

   Later, on July 31, Japan sent 7,81,320 doses of such jabs as the
second consignment

   COVAX, a global alliance, is a worldwide initiative aimed at
equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines directed by Gavi, the Vaccine
Alliance.

   These consignments of vaccine are important for Bangladesh as
around 1.5 million people are waiting for the second dose of this
Oxford made vaccine.