A massive rush at the Covid-19 vaccine centres continued across the country on Saturday, following the government announcement to end the first dose campaign and drop the requirement for documentation.
Considering the enthusiasm from vaccine seekers, the government has, however, decided to extend the campaign by two more days till Sunday.
Members of the urban poor and lower-middle-income families have made up the majority of respondents to the special vaccination drive. The most widely provided vaccine is Sinovac.
Vaccination centres have been set up at all community clinics, near Awami League party offices and mosques in Dhaka and at other city corporation areas across the country.
Almost all the centres in the capital saw huge crowds on Saturday, and vaccine seekers were forced to stand in long queues for hours on end. Health guidelines were largely being maintained.
In addition to extending the special vaccination campaign, the government has now decided to vaccinate more people beyond the World Health Organization (WHO) target.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Saturday said: “We had already administered 110 million till Friday evening. We are hoping to inoculate more than 10 million people through the drive. So the number of people vaccinated is expected to exceed the 120 million target set by WHO.”
As of Friday evening, Bangladesh had administered at least one dose of the Covid vaccine to 109,581,331 people, including 81,839,878 people who had received the second dose, and 3,559,826 people who had received a booster dose.
Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora, additional DG of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), earlier told reporters the campaign would only be extended in areas where demand for the vaccine was high.
However, the health minister said anyone who failed to get the vaccine may get it at permanent centres, although second and booster doses would be prioritized.
Massive queues at vaccine centres
Imran Hossain, a private university student in the capital, reached the 250-bed TB hospital in the Shyamoli area at 7:15am and got his vaccine at around 9:45am.
“When I reached there almost an hour before the administering of the first dose started, there were over 350 aspirants. When I left at around 10am, there were over 1,500 people waiting in the queue. People were entering the hospital compound in groups,” he said.
Although discipline was maintained at larger vaccine centres, such as those at medical college hospitals, smaller centres struggled to cope with the pressure of vaccine seekers.
At Meradia Hindipara camp, hundreds of people were left waiting for a long time as vaccination started late due to a shortage of volunteers.
Rickshaw puller Mobarak Miah said hundreds of people were standing in the queue with only one booth at the centre. “The worst part is people are availing of vaccines coming from behind. There is no discipline.”
Overcrowding at the Sipahibagh tempo strand centre was even worse. The centre near Mirpur 12 slum fared a little better.
DGHS Director General Prof Dr Khurshid Alam said he visited several government hospitals and saw unprecedented crowds at every centre.
“This is why the campaign time has been extended,” he added.
Strict encouragement
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam at a centre in Mohammadpur warned that trade licences would not be renewed if the holders did not have proof of vaccination.
Mobile courts would be conducted to check vaccination certificates at the shops, he added.
When asked about overcrowding during the special vaccination drive, he said the vaccination was being conducted in phases.
“Garment workers will get the vaccine soon,” he said.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque during his virtual briefing said students would continue to get vaccines through the school and madrasa vaccination programs.
Meanwhile, Health Services Division Senior Secretary Lokman Hossain Miah in Narayanganj said demand was greater from floating people in districts other than Dhaka.
Special measures are being taken to bring these people under the vaccination program, he added.
He urged all to take the vaccine to protect those around them.
Our Narayanganj correspondent Shamima Rita contributed to this report