BANGLADESH

50% of people will be vaccinated by December: Health Minister

Health Minister Zahid Malek said about 50 per cent of the country’s population would be vaccinated by next December. In addition, 60 to 70 percent of people are likely to be vaccinated by April next year. Educational institutions have opened. Immediate immunization of 12 to 18 year old school children will be started soon.

“So far, 50 million people have been vaccinated as the countrywide campaign is underway. At least 50% of the population will be given the jabs by December and 70-80% by March next. We’ve already procured necessary vaccine shots,” the minister said.

Zahid Maleque also announced a program to bring children between 12-17 years of age under the vaccination drive soon.

He was speaking at a progam arranged by district Puja Celebration Council in Sadar upazila, marking Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community.

He urged the Hindu community to celebrate the festival maintaining health protocols.

On January 27, Prime Minister Hasina launched the Covid-19 vaccination programme at Kurmitola General Hospital through a videoconference.

The government rolled out a countrywide mass Covid-19 vaccination drive on February 7 vaccinating people aged 55 and above in the first phase.

The health minister recently visited the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. In this regard, he said, ‘The World Health Organization has highly praised Bangladesh for controlling corona. Bangladesh is being vaccinated 20 percent of the population. They have assured me that they will give us 40 per cent free vaccine. ‘ I don’t know of any country that has vaccinated so many people in one day. ‘

Addressing the Hindu leaders present on the occasion, the health minister said, “Every religion speaks of peace and human service.” Durga Puja has to be celebrated according to the hygiene rules for Corona. The organizers of each puja mandapa have to make arrangements for observance of hygiene rules.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Abdul Latif presided over the function. At the end of the program, the health minister donated 500 kg of rice to each of the 176 puja mandals of Sadar and Saturia upazilas.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button
Close