Enough vaccines in stock for booster dose: Health Minister

Terming the rise in Omicron infections "alarming", Health Minister Zahid Maleque today said if this upward trend continues, there will be no space left in the hospitals for patients.

"We ask that people wear masks for their own safety as well the countrymen's," the minister said after a meeting with the Russian ambassador at the Secretariat today.

"We have decided to give Covid-19 vaccine booster dose to people aged 50 and above. The government will need an additional 70 lakh doses for it, which should not be a problem. We currently have 9.30 crore doses in hand. So far, 14.50 crore vaccine doses have been administered. We have sufficient vaccines," he said.

"We've seen fairs and political programmes where people are not wearing masks. They are putting themselves and others in danger," he added.