Covid inoculation of children aged 5-11 begins

Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque on Thursday inaugurated the Covid-19 vaccination programme for children aged five to 11.

The children were given Pfizer vaccines. The minister said the vaccines had been specially formulated for children. “They are very safe and good.”

Sixteen students between the first and fifth grades of Abul Bashar Government Primary School in the capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area received vaccines during the inauguration at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. Among them, Nidhi Nandini of grade three received the first jab.

Zahid said Thursday’s vaccination of children was a trial run and the main campaign would begin on August 25.

“The main campaign will start in the city corporation areas. Then it will be implemented countrywide,” he said.

He also said around 2.2 crore primary school children would be vaccinated and about 4.4 crore doses would be required.

“We have already received about 30 lakh doses. The US government has confirmed that the rest will be provided through COVAX.”

The minister further said Bangladesh had administered as many as 85 lakh doses in a day and it was a testament to the country’s capacity.

The world now knows Bangladesh can vaccinate efficiently and the country has received almost 11 crore free doses through COVAX, Zahid said.

“Besides, Bangladesh has also procured doses with its own money. We have procured about 30 crore doses. There are many countries that have not provided free vaccines, but we have.”

Education Minister Dipu Moni told the programme Bangladesh had achieved great success in vaccination. “97 per cent of students aged 12-18 have received the first dose while 73 per cent got the second one.”

Meanwhile, the students receiving vaccines were cheerful. Nusrat Jahan Arin, a fourth-grader, said her parents had been vaccinated before and only she was left.

“Now I am receiving the vaccine. I am not afraid.”