Bangladesh to procure Tk 4.12b vaccines through UNICEF

The government has approved a proposal to procure vaccines worth Tk 4.12 billion (Tk 412.71 crore) through the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for use under the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) during the 2025–26 fiscal year.

The approval came from the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) at a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Wednesday at the cabinet division meeting room, reports UNB.

According to official sources, the Health Services Division placed the proposal seeking approval for the direct procurement of vaccines through UNICEF, the recommended supplier.

Officials said the vaccines will be used in the implementation of the country's EPI activities aimed at protecting children and other target groups from vaccine-preventable diseases.

The committee reviewed the proposal and recommended it for approval under the direct procurement method, considering UNICEF's role as the designated international procurement agency for EPI vaccines.

The procurement is expected to ensure an uninterrupted supply of vaccines required for the national immunisation programme throughout the fiscal year.