ED: An exemplary start -- but there’s a long way to go

The vaccine rollout is a tall order -- even the richer, more developed nations of the world are struggling with the process. Considering the logistical difficulties Bangladesh faces in the matter, our performance has been exemplary, and the wrinkles in the process have been minor so far. All in all, it can be said that February has been a success, with 1.5% of people receiving their first shots. The challenge at hand now is to maintain this success and this level of efficiency as we move forward in vaccinating the rest of the population.

Let us be clear: Bangladesh has, no doubt, defied expectations on this matter, and for that, the authorities deserve kudos. There are some complaints, unsurprisingly, of favouritism and the breaking of queues -- a lamentable byproduct of our VIP culture, but most have reported being satisfied with the process. On top of that, Bangladesh is yet to see any grave side eects from the vaccination process.

What we need to keep in mind, though, is that there is still plenty of time to drop the ball.

This is not meant to be a criticism of the hard-working men and women who have ensured a smooth rollout so far. But realistically speaking, we have a long way to go. The pressure on the system will soon increase, and the authorities can expect more complaints and grievances, larger crowds, and all kinds of problems arising, including unanticipated logistical issues.

We need to keep our eyes on the ball, and stay prepared. Many had assumed our vaccine management would be fraught with problems from the beginning, but Bangladesh proved them wrong. Let us see this through all the way -- here is our chance to really turn over a new leaf.