Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday instructed the authorities concerned for reducing the age limit from 55 years to 40 to get registered for vaccination, aiming to expand and accelerate the drive.
“I’ve instructed the Minister (Health Minister) and Director General, Health in this regard, and asked the DG to know more about it from the minister,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this while speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting joining it virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban. The meeting was held at the conference room of the Cabinet Division of Bangladesh Secretariat.
She asked the relevant authorities to make a system where a registered person while taking the vaccine shot can come with his/her father, mother or an elderly one with him or her and get the jabs for them as well.
Sheikh Hasina said she has given the instruction aiming to bring a significant portion of the country under the coverage of the vaccination within February and March.
“There is confusion in rural areas (about the vaccine)…this will go way InshaAllah,” she hoped.
She said that the registration process for the vaccine has to be open slightly from now on to vaccinate more people as quickly as possible. “After giving the first dose, we’ve to prepare for the second dose.”
Hasina also asked the authorities concerned to ensure the implementation of the instruction of wearing masks and washing hands regularly even after the vaccination. “There must not be any thinking that nothing will happen after the vaccination…all must remain alert.”
Second shot by 8-12 weeks of first one
The Prime Minister said the second dose of the vaccine have to be taken within 8-12 weeks of the first one and asked the DCs, UNOs and personnel of different forces to get vaccinated.
Vaccinating cleaning workers
She also laid emphasis on vaccinating cleaning workers of the country. “I think they should be brought under vaccination very quickly…all the cleaning workers must be told this.”
The Prime Minister said everyone who will get the vaccine must be provided with a card (like identity card) which will be used for taking the second dose of the vaccine. “This card can be used as vaccination proof while going abroad.”
Vaccination of AL followers
Talking about vaccinating the leaders and workers of Awami League, Juba League, Chhatra League and other political bodies, she said if they could get registered themselves then they would get it.
She said the leaders and workers of Awami League, Juba League, Chhatra League and other associate bodies of the ruling party formed committees in their respective areas during the pandemic to provide service to people.
They were very active in transporting patients and performing funeral rituals for the dead bodies, Sheikh Hasina said, “As a result, many of the leaders and workers got infected and a good number of them died,” she said.
