Citizens aged 55, above urged to register for vaccination

The health authorities have urged people aged 55 or above to get registered for being inoculated against the coronavirus.

The Management Information System (MIS) branch of the health directorate said that all the people aged 55 or above can register through the Surokkha App from Wednesday afternoon.

Earlier on the day, Bangladesh kicked off the mass-vaccination drive through the inoculation of a nurse in capital's Kurmitola General Hospital.

However, the age limit is not applicable for all public and private health workers, freedom fighters and Birangonas, national professors, national awardees, eminent artists, literarian and cultural figures, law enforcement officers, members of the military and paramilitary forces, government employees, media personnel, elected public representatives, religious representatives (all religions), people engaged with burials, emergency electricity, water, gas and fire service officials, railway, air and sea port officials, bank officials, unskilled expatriate workers, national sports team players, and fast track project officials and workers.

Steps of registration

To complete the registration process, people must first download the "Surokkha" app from the Play Store. Then they have to register for the vaccine with their phone and NID numbers in the app.

While registering for using the app, they will also have to provide detailed information, notably their names, dates of birth, information on whether they have any other physical complications, occupations, etc.

Each person will receive two doses of the coronavirus vaccine. Details of the first and second doses can be found through the app.

According to sources at the Management Information System (MIS) branch of the health directorate, vaccine recipients will be able to enter the name of the vaccination centre of their choice at the time of registering in the app. Later, the MIS will send an SMS to the recipients' mobile numbers mentioning at which centre, on what date they will get the vaccine.

An immunisation card will be created in the name of a person at the time of registration. Then the recipients have to print out that card. To get the first and second doses of Covid-19 vaccine, they have to come to the vaccination centre on the scheduled date with that card.