DGHS suspends booster doses

As the country is running short of the Covid-19 vaccines, the health authorities have suspended administering booster (third and fourth) doses.

They have said taking booster doses is not mandatory in the current situation, adding they would continue the first and second doses as the demand for those is very low.

At a press briefing at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Wednesday, its Additional Director General (planning and development) Dr Ahmedul Kabir said administering booster doses would remain suspended until Bangladesh receives more vaccines.

“We have requested Gavi to supply three million doses. Booster doses will resume once we receive the supply,” he added.

According to the DGHS, Bangladesh till now has received nearly 362.5 million vaccine doses from seven companies. Till February 28 this year, over 358 million doses have been administered.

Newly appointed DGHS Line Director Dr Saiduzzaman a few days back told the media they will not administer booster doses from March 1 as the remaining Pfizer vaccines would expire on February 28.

However, neither the line director nor the additional director general disclosed the number of the remaining vaccines.

Meanwhile, Programme Manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Dr Abdullah Al Murad told The Business Post they have 6.42 million doses that are mostly for children. “The others are Sinopharm vaccines.”