Additional Financing for and Restructuring of the COVID-19 Emergency Response and Pandemic Preparedness Project

active

The proposed additional financing (AF) will enable affordable and equitable access to vaccines and play a critical role in further strengthening the health system. As these activities are aligned with the original PDO, the PDO would remain unchanged. The proposedAF will partially meet the total financing needs of US$2.4 billion estimated by the MoHFW for the COVID-19 vaccination program. The proposed AF will cover costs for covering approximately 30% of the population with COVID-19 vaccination. The remaining needs will be met by mobilizing domestic resources and assistance from other partners. Bangladesh remains vulnerable to the risks of COVID-19 and the government needs to ensure adequate COVID-19 vaccine supplies for its population.This AF is being proposed at a crucial juncture in GoB’s response to COVID-19. The global economy will not recover fully until people feel they can live, socialize, work, and travel with confidence. Given the importance of limiting the spread of COVID-19 to both health and economic recovery, further supporting health system improvements and providing access to COVID-19 vaccines will be critical to accelerate economic and social recovery. Vaccinations have significant health and economic externalities, and their full social value is usually not reflected in vaccine market prices.The activities of the original project includes a few procurement activities and assignment of ES specialists. Major health provision activities, civil works, resulting waste generation in the health centers have not yet materialized. The GRM, although active, is also yet to receiver any project related complaints and issues.