The government will start administering the fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to five categories of people from December 20 on a trial basis.
People over the age of 60, 18 years and older with chronic diseases, immunocompromised population, front-line fighters, and pregnant women or lactating mothers — who received their third dose at least four months ago — will receive the fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
The Pfizer vaccine will be administered as the fourth shot, read a circular, recently issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
On December 6, Professor Dr Ahmedul Kabir, additional director general (ADG) of DGHS, said the fourth dose will be given at seven centres in the beginning. One hundred people will be vaccinated at each designated centre and they will be kept under observation for two weeks.
All citizens having health risks will be vaccinated with the fourth dose from January 1 next year, he added.
Earlier, the National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19 recommended administering the fourth dose of Covid vaccine to contain the further spread of the virus, said Dr Shamsul Haque, director of the vaccination program of DGHS, on November 30.
So far, more than 126 million people have received at least two doses of the Covid vaccine, while over 62 million have received boosters.
