Administering Covid booster dose officially begins in Dhaka ‘on limited scale’
Bangladesh this morning officially began administering booster doses of Covid-19 vaccine, but "on a limited scale".
From 10am, a few hospitals in Dhaka started administering the third Covid-19 jab -- Pfizer vaccine -- as a booster dose, Dr Shamsul Haq, director of the Directorate General of Health Services' (DGHS) vaccination programme, said.
The hospitals are: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Kurmitola General Hospital, Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), Shaikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, 250-bed TB Hospital in Shyamoli, Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Hospital and Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital.
Dr Shamsul said that initially citizens aged above 60 will receive the booster doses. "Registered members on Surokkha app who received two doses of a Covid-19 jab will get SMS to receive the booster dose. After that, people will get the jabs from the centres showing their vaccine cards."
Dr Shamsul further said that letters have been sent to all hospitals to start administering the Covid-19 booster shots.
"Those who are prepared will start administering vaccine from today, others will begin in a day or two," he added.
Since last Sunday, the government has been giving the Covid-19 booster jabs on a trial basis.
Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine will be used for the purpose, at least to start with, said Health Secretary Lokman Hossain Miah yesterday. "There will be no shortage of vaccines," he assured.
Lokman Hossain said that Bangladesh has already secured purchases and contributions of 31-32 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines, out of which 15 crore have already arrived.
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