3rd, 4th doses of Covid-19 vaccination underway

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has resumed administering third and fourth doses of Covid-19 vaccines at nine designated centres in Dhaka, starting last Sunday.

This move comes as a response to the recent rise in Covid-19 infections and the detection of a new sub-variant in the country. Earlier on 18 January, the health directorate gave instructions in this regard.  

Dr Mohammad Nizam Uddin, member secretary of the Covid-19 Vaccine Management Task Force at the DGHS, on Tuesday said, "We have sent the required vaccines to the centres. Initially, frontline healthcare workers, individuals aged 60 and above, those aged 18 and above with chronic diseases or compromised immunity, and pregnant women will be eligible for the booster doses."

The Pfizer VCV vaccine is being offered for booster shots at the following nine centres. Those are Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Kurmitola General Hospital, Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Mugda Medical College Hospital, Sheikh Russel National Gastro Liver Institute, and Hospital, Fulbaria Government Employees Hospital, and National Institute of Ear, Nose, and Throat.

The vaccination programme will be gradually expanded to other specialised institutes, government hospitals in Dhaka, government medical college hospitals outside Dhaka, and district-level hospitals.

To receive a booster dose, individuals need to download their vaccination card from the Surokkha website or app and bring it to the designated centre.

For individuals who haven't received any Covid-19 vaccines before, the Pfizer RTU vaccine will be available for the first two doses. Initially, these individuals can get vaccinated at Covid Dedicated Hospital in Mohakhali in the Dhaka North City Corporation and at Nayabazar Dhaka Metropolitan General Hospital in the Dhaka South City Corporation.