The Directorate General Health (DGHS) is thinking of conducting antibody tests to assess the level of effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccine on Bangladeshi people.
DGHS Director General Prof Dr ABM Khurshid Alam made the statement while replying to a question during a press briefing at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Wednesday morning, while giving updates on vaccine-related development.
“We are thinking of conducting antibody tests to find out if the vaccine works properly on us or not," Prof Khurshid said. “But when we can start the tests is a question as there is no information on when we will develop the antibody. So, we don’t know when the right time to start the tests is.”
It is to be noted that the Bangladesh government has yet to approve antibody tests in the country.
Earlier this month, the Covid-19 National Technical Advisory Committee (NATC) urged the government to start antibody tests to assess the effectiveness of the incoming vaccines.
When asked about it, Health Service Division Secretary Abdul Mannan said, during Wednesday’s briefing, that when the government gave nod to antigen tests, the antibody testing issue was also discussed.
“However, the matter was not approved following the NATC’s recommendations then,” he added.