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Covid-19 jab: Second dose starts Thursday


Published : 05 Apr 2021 10:06 PM | Updated : 06 Apr 2021 01:20 AM

The government is going to start administering the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine from Thursday and will continue to inoculate campaign across the country during the lockdown and holy Ramadan.

Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora, additional director general for health services, in a statement on Monday said the first dose of the life-saving jab would continue at the same time.

Earlier, chairing the weekly cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday directed the authorities concerned to roll out the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine from next Thursday as per pre-schedule.

“The Prime Minister has made it clear to follow the prefixed roll-out plan for the second dose of Covid-19 inoculation scheduled to start from April 8,” said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam while briefing reporters after the meeting.

He said there would be no problem with the stock of the second dose of the vaccines as Bangladesh will get the supply of the Jabs from India within the scheduled time.

Bangladesh is giving the Oxford/AstraZeneca’s vaccine made in the Serum Institute of India.

The vaccine is safe and effective as endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which listed it for emergency use.

The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine had undergone review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which has thoroughly assessed the data on the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine before allowing in the market.

 Bangladesh was one of the first few countries in the world that started nationwide Covid-19 vaccination on February 7 after official opening by the prime minister on January 27. About 55 lakh people have received the first dose so far.

 One person will get two doses - eight weeks apart.

 The additional director general for health said administering the second doses would start from April 8. She said people would start getting SMS for the second dose from April 5.

 According to a health directorate statement, Beximco Pharmaceuticals will assist in vaccine transportation across the country from 6 April.

 Bangladesh on Monday reported 7,075 new Covid-19 cases, second highest in a single day since its first detection on March 8 last year. The pandemic virus claimed 52 lives overnight.

 In order to make treatment facilities easily available for the Covid-19 patients, the government has introduced telemedicine services comprising 100 physicians for round the clock in the country.

 The contact hotline and mobile numbers are 16263; 333; 10655 and 01944333222.