Bangladesh faces COVID-19 vaccine shortage amid new variant surge

IANS June 20, 2025 525 views

Bangladesh is struggling with a COVID-19 vaccine shortage as Omicron sub-variants drive infections to a five-month high. The country has only 3.2 million doses left, most of which will expire soon. Public hesitancy and vaccine misinformation further complicate the crisis. Health officials warn that immediate action is needed to prevent another deadly wave.

"There are various rumours about vaccines that have no scientific basis." – Halimur Rashid, DGHS
Dhaka, June 20: Bangladesh is facing a vaccine crisis to fight against the newly detected sub-variants of the Omicron strain of COVID-19. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) of the country stressed that only 3.2 million doses of older vaccines are available, which are due to expire in a few months, local media reported.

Key Points

1

Bangladesh reports highest COVID-19 infection rate since January

2

Only 3.2 million expiring vaccine doses remain

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Public reluctance due to vaccine misinformation

4

Experts call for urgent action to curb new variants

According to a report by Bangladeshi media outlet UNB, COVID-19 infection rates have surged nationwide over the past month. According to the data from the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) in Dhaka, 134 cases tested positive out of 1,409 samples in May, a sharp rise in the infection rate at 9.51 per cent, the highest recorded in Bangladesh from January to May 2023.

“In total, there are around 3.2 million doses of vaccines. No new vaccines for the sub-variants have arrived so far. However, the process of procurement is ongoing. A vaccine committee will be formed soon to make a prompt decision,” said Halimur Rashid, Line Director of the Communicable Disease Control (CDC) unit at the DGHS.

Meanwhile, amid the rise in Covid cases reportedly there is a lack of interest among the public to get vaccinated. “There are various rumours about vaccines that have no scientific basis,” said Rashid.

According to the DGHS, a total of 28 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Bangladesh till Thursday morning, as the total number of confirmed cases in the country has risen to 20,51,932.

The country on June 5 recorded its first COVID-19 fatality this year when a man died from the infectious disease in the capital, Dhaka. The DGHS data revealed that over 29,500 people have died of the COVID-19 virus in Bangladesh so far since the epidemic began.

Experts emphasised the need for early preparedness in tackling the spread of new sub-variants, adding that proactive action can lower the infection and mortality rates.

Reader Comments

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Priya S.
This is concerning for our neighbors. India should consider extending vaccine support again if possible. We've helped before during the Delta wave, and public health is interconnected in our region. Stay strong Bangladesh! 🇮🇳🤝🇧🇩
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Rahul K.
Vaccine hesitancy is a global problem now. Even in India, we faced similar rumors. Maybe our health ministries can collaborate on public awareness campaigns? Sharing our "Har Ghar Dastak" campaign learnings might help.
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Ananya M.
The numbers seem relatively low compared to previous waves, but we know how quickly COVID can spread. Hope Bangladesh gets fresh vaccine stocks soon. Their healthcare system has limited capacity compared to ours.
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Vikram J.
While we should show solidarity, India must ensure our own vaccine stocks are adequate first. Remember how we faced shortages during second wave? Charity begins at home. But once we're secure, helping neighbors makes sense.
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Sunita P.
The article mentions vaccines expiring soon - such a waste! 😔 Maybe Bangladesh can speed up distribution before they expire? In Kerala we had similar issues but local health workers did door-to-door vaccinations effectively.
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Rajiv N.
Both our countries need to invest more in domestic vaccine production. Covaxin was a good start for India. Maybe we can help Bangladesh build capacity too - it would benefit the entire subcontinent's health security.

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Bangladesh COVID-19 Omicron vaccine shortage DGHS Halimur Rashid pandemic