The local health authorities are all set to launch a special Covid-19 vaccination drive for the first time at ward level across the country with a target to inoculate 33.2 million people on Saturday.
Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Thursday informed the media about their latest plan to bring in more people under Covid vaccination drive in the country.
Civil Surgeon of Kishoreganj, Dr Mujibur Rahman said necessary support has been provided to the union parishad EPI unit.
DGHS Divisional Director (Dhaka) Dr Belal Hossain said all the measures have been taken and enough vaccines stock has been ensured at upazila level so that the process could not be hampered in any time of the month.
“We are hoping to achieve the target set by the DGHS,” he hoped.
Administering booster dose is much more technical for his unit staffs than that of Covid 19 vaccines, he added.
On Thursday, the member secretary of national covid 19 vaccination committee Dr Shamshul Haque told Dhaka Tribune that they are going to use the structure and service facilities of Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) to dispense the Sinopharm, Sinovac and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines from today.
EPI staff would provide the first dose in January and the second dose in February. Those who would receive Oxford-AstraZeneca as first dose would get the second dose on March.
According to the EPI unit, they will divide a union parishad into 24 blocks, which means 24 temporary vaccination centres or booths would be established. The vaccine provider will provide first dose to the people once in a booth during February and second dose at the same venue in February or March.
Around 300-500 people aged over 18 would be brought under the walk-in vaccination program at each centre.
“Keeping the minimum target of vaccinating 300 a day, we are estimating to inoculate around 33.2 million people,” informed the line director.
DGHS said that 73,786,623 people got the first dose till the last day of December while 51,801,052 people among the first dose recipients got the second dose.
Starting from December 28, health authorities have provided booster shot to 43,004 people. In Bangladesh people aged above 60 and frontline profession are now considered to be eligible for the booster shot.