Special vaccination campaign buckles under huge demand

Thousands of people queuing up for Covid-19 vaccines returned without getting jabbed as the supply of doses faltered on Sunday, the second day of the special countrywide inoculation drive.

Afsana Akter, 50, a resident of Kallayanpur in the capital, queued up with scores of other residents of Natunbazar Slum at Kallayanpur Girl’s School Centre around 7am braving the rain.

Only three got jabbed. The rest had to return home after waiting for four hours. “They did not give me vaccine because I’m not a voter of this area,” she said.

The scenario was similar at most vaccination centres across the capital, including Mirpur, Mohamamdpur, Agargaon, Jatrabari, Farmgate and other parts of the Old Dhaka.

Bangladesh has seen a record number of new coronavirus cases and fatalities in recent weeks, sparking interest in receiving jabs.

Councillors of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) told The Business Post that the health department was providing only 350 doses against 4,000 to 5,000 people.

DNCC ward 11 Councillor Dewan Abdul Mannan said they struggled to contain the situation.

Over 2,000 people queued at the vaccination centre of Jannat Academy High School at Mirpur-11. After giving out 350 doses within three hours, the authorities concerned said they would not administer any more jabs on the day, triggering agitation among those waiting for vaccines.

“I need at least 5,000 doses a day to meet the demand,” said Md Badal Sarder, a councillor of DSCC’s ward 49. He said he had to take assistance from the police to control the situation as people were demonstrating there seeking vaccines.