Health Minister Zahid Maleque yesterday said the government would start administering oral cholera vaccines in the capital from next month.

"Inoculation will begin in areas prone to cholera and diarrhoea," he said, adding that the health department has a plan to widen the vaccination programme in future.

The minister was speaking to journalists after visiting Government Titumir College in the capital, where the entrance test for the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) course applicants took place.

Addressing a briefing on April 13, health directorate spokesperson Nazmul Islam said a total of 2.3 million people, aged one year and above, will get oral cholera vaccines from next month in five diarrhoea-prone areas in the capital.

Expectant mothers will not be included in the campaign to be held in Jatrabari, Dakshinkhan, Mirpur, Mohammadpur and Sabujbagh areas.

In 2020, the health directorate vaccinated 12 lakh people in six areas of the city with the first dose of cholera vaccines. Due to the Covid-19 emergency, the second round of the campaign could not be held.

This year, a record number of diarrhoea patients have been admitted to the icddr,b.

The number of diarrhoea patients in a 24-hour periodsurpassed the 1,000-mark on March 16, for the first time in icddr,b's 60-year journey.

COVID VACCINATION

Zahid said the government is preparing for yearly vaccination of people against Covid.

"It is yet to be confirmed whether people need to be vaccinated against Covid every year, but we are preparing for it," he said, adding that measures have been taken to produce vaccines for Covid and other diseases.

The minister said the government would need 13 crore Covid jabs to vaccinate as many people against the virus every year, but the World Health Organization has not yet made a call on this.

"We have achieved success in Covid vaccination. Now all vaccines will be produced at home."

Asked about the recent report of Transparency International Bangladesh on an alleged discrepancy of around Tk 23,000 crore in coronavirus vaccine purchase and management, Zahid said he didn't know anything about it yet.

He said a total of 65,907 students took the entrance test for the BDS course this year in 26 centres across the country.

"There are 1,950 seats this year. Of them, 545 are in government colleges. On average, 34 students are vying for one seat," the minister added.