Record 1.2cr people jabbed in single day

Some 1.2 crore people in Bangladesh were inoculated on Saturday, the first day of the countrywide special mass Covid-19 vaccination drive launched by the government aiming to provide the first dose to one crore people a day.

Of those inoculated on the first day, 1.1 crore received their first dose, which is the single-day highest vaccination in the country, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) data shows.

DGHS authorities said more people than targeted took the vaccine on Saturday thanks to the easy procedures of vaccination with mobile numbers and the cooperation of local representatives and administration. That the first dose will stop is another reason for a huge response from people.

On Saturday, 96,965 people were vaccinated at the Dhamrai Upazila Health Complex, which is the highest single-day vaccination in the upazila.

Dr Noor Riffat Ara, Dhamrai Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, told The Business Standard that vaccines ran out within three hours after the drive started at 9am. After the Expanded Programme on Immunisation authorities were informed about it, they sent 50,000 more doses immediately.

The DGHS on Saturday provided 42 vaccinators to assist in the vaccination programme. There were Brac volunteers too. Earlier, a maximum of 34,000 vaccines were given in one day in the upazila, she added.

Last year, on 28 September, on the occasion of the birthday of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, 67.58 lakh people were vaccinated.

Professor Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora, chair of the Covid-19 Vaccine Management Taskforce Committee, told TBS it has been possible to bring more than one crore people under the vaccine in one day in this campaign with the sincere support and participation of all.

"Earlier in the vaccine campaign, we identified those who work in factories, shops or on public transport who are not willing to get vaccinated during the day as they have to take a leave of absence. Therefore, we discussed the issue with BGMEA, BKMEA, shop owners associations and made special arrangements so that they can take the vaccine within their working hours," she added.

She informed us that as more people have been interested, the campaign will continue on Monday too.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said on Sunday that there are not more than one crore people in many countries. The ability to give one crore doses a day has made Bangladesh the first in South Asia to deal with Covid-19 and 10th in the world.

Vaccination plan

Providing the first dose through the campaign will stop after Monday. However, one can take the first dose at the vaccine centre. At present, the government places more emphasis on giving second and booster doses.

Vaccinating eligible people will continue but more emphasis will be on the second dose in March. If 70% of the targeted population is vaccinated with two doses, the mortality will be less, even if the infection increases. Emphasis will also be placed on giving a booster dose in April, said Meerjady Sabrina.

She said the Department of Health has nine crore of vaccines in stock at present. 

Till Saturday, over 12.75 crore people received the first dose. Of them, 8.27 crore received the second dose while more than 36 lakh people got the booster dose.