Moderna jabs to be given as boosters instead of Pfizer

The government has decided to administer Moderna Inc's Covid-19 vaccine as booster doses instead of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine. The decision was taken considering the number of vaccine jabs at hand and to ensure vaccines for all in the country.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) issued a notification on Wednesday (12 January) in this regard instructing all concerned health authorities in the country associated with the government's inoculation programme to follow the directive. 

Pfizer vaccine will be reserved for use as the first and second doses for students in school and college (ages 12-17) and other people who have already received one dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

The government rolled out the coronavirus booster vaccine programme on 28 December last year.

The doses are currently going to people over the age of 60 and frontline workers. A person will be eligible for the third vaccine dose if at least six months have passed since they received their second jab. 

Currently, Bangladesh is giving Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines for the first and second doses. 

The government has planned to vaccinate about one crore students at the secondary and tertiary levels by 30 January. 

Students aged 12-18 can take the vaccines from the respective centres showing their school and college identity cards. No decision has been taken yet regarding the university students. 

The education ministry will sit with the National University on Tuesday to devise ways for ensuring vaccines to all the students.