Nationwide Covid vaccination campaign today

A nationwide Covid-19 vaccination campaign will be held today to speed up the vaccination program to combat the deadly virus outbreak.

“The government has set a target to inoculate 75 lakh people under booster and second dose during the daylong drive,” Health Minister Zahid Maleque told a press conference held virtually at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in Dhaka on Monday.

Maleque said as part of controlling the Covid-19 pandemic, the government has brought 76.05 per cent of people under the first dose of vaccination coverage, 70.3 per cent under the second dose, and 17.9 per cent under the booster dose coverage.

Bangladesh has been lauded globally for the expansion of vaccination coverage, which eventually helped the countrymen to protect themselves from the lethal virus, he said adding, “Right now, the country has a stock of 2.76 crore vaccines.”

As of July 17, a total of 27,98,37,374 doses of Covid-19 vaccines, including booster doses were administered while the countrywide vaccination campaign was launched on February 7 last year.

“A total of 12,95,33,536 people were administered the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine till Sunday while 11,98,57,594 received the second dose across the country during the period,” according to data issued by the DGHS.

As many as 3,0,4,46,244 people received the booster doses of the vaccine to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, it added.

“Till the date, Bangladesh received over 30 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines... Either the country got the vaccine doses under COVAX facilities or through purchase,” the DGHS added.

“The government has taken the decision to inoculate children aged between five and 12 years with Covid-19 vaccines after approval of the World Health Organization (WHO)... The country has a sufficient amount of vaccines, which are eligible for the children,” the health ministry sources said.

There are 2.20 crore children aged between five and 12 in the country, the ministry said, adding, “Registration is mandatory for them through ‘Surokkha App’ for receiving the vaccine.”

On November 1, 2021, the vaccination campaign for students, aged between 12 and 17, began at eight centres in Dhaka city. Afterwards, the campaign has been expanded across the country.