Schoolchildren get Covid jabs
The government yesterday started inoculating 12- to 17-year-old school students against Covid-19.
With this, Bangladesh has joined the small list of countries who have kicked off Covid vaccination of children.
Speaking at a programme marking the inauguration at the capital's Ideal School and College, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said there will be no crisis of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, which is being given to the schoolchildren.
Eight vaccination centres have been set up in as many schools in the capital for jabbing schoolchildren. The government has a plan to expand the vaccination programme to 21 others districts soon.
"We will need around 3 crore doses of Pfizer vaccine to bring all 12- to 17-year-old schoolchildren under the vaccination coverage. We have about 1 crore doses in hand and another 1 crore jabs are in the pipeline. The World Health Organization has informed us that we will get more Moderna and Pfizer vaccines," Zahid said.
Vaccines will be administered from the eight centres from today, the minister said, adding that each centre will administer 5,000 doses a day, and the government plans to give the jabs against Covidto 40,000 children in Dhaka a day.
He said the government will expand the student vaccination programme to 21 other districts.
"We are also considering rolling out the vaccine to all districts and if poissble, to the upazila level. No child will be left out," Zahid added.
The eight vaccination centres are: Ideal School and College in Motijheel, Hurdco International School in Bashundhara, South Point School and College in Malibagh, Chittagong Grammar School in Banani, Dhaka Commerce College in Mirpur, Kakoli High School and College in Dhanmondi, South Breeze School in Uttara and Scholastica school in Mirpur.
The health minister said during a trial run on October 14, the authorities administered the Pfizer Covid vaccine to 120 students from several schools in Manikganj. None of them showed signs of side effects.
He said children aged 12 to 17, who are out of school, will also get the vaccine.
Addressing the event, Education Minister Dipu Moni said steps will be taken so that preference is given to SSC and HSC examinees for the vaccination.
"We will be able to resume classes at educational institutions fully soon after completing the vaccination of students," she said.
Over two dozen countries have so far approved or started giving Covid shots to children below 18, according to media reports.
Comments