ADB approves $336.5m loan for vaccine production

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $336.5 million loan package on Wednesday to help Bangladesh increase its capacity for producing its own medications, vaccines, and diagnostics.

In order to ensure the security of the vaccine supply, it also aimed to support the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), the country's regulatory body, according to a press statement.

"Our experience with the Covid-19 pandemic exposed challenges in accessing diagnostic testing kits, availability of vaccines, and pandemic preparedness. It highlighted the need to improve self-sufficiency and establish capacity to manufacture vaccines," said ADB Principal Health Specialist Dinesh Arora.

"This project aims to build Bangladesh's resilience against future pandemics, improve vaccine supply security, and reduce the incidence and severity of vaccine-preventable diseases," he added.

/MHK/