Govt halts on-spot registration for Covid-19 vaccine

In the wake of a massive pressure of vaccine seekers at the inoculation centres for on-spot registration to get Covid-19 vaccine, the government has decided to halt the facility until further notice.

"The vaccination centres saw more rush of vaccine receivers with on-spot registration than those came after registering online. As our registration system is performing well, we are suspending on-spot registration from now on," Health Minister Zahid Maleque said at a programme in a city hotel on Thursday.

"There is now no option for on-spot registrations to avoid crowds and ensure a fair vaccine management. From now on, one has to successfully complete online registration for getting the jabs," he clarified. 

"We want the vaccination to be administered properly. We have set up numerous vaccination centres. We have created this beautiful environment.

"But now it is seen that the number on-spot registrations is higher than online registrations. And those who are getting registered are not able to enter. Older people are suffering. Those who are vaccinating - doctors, nurses – are suffering too. We do not want this situation to continue."

"If we need to restart on-spot registration in future, we will let people know," he added.

Bangladesh rolled out the vaccination campaign on 7 February and is carrying out the immunisation at 1,005 centres across the country. Except for the weekends, 2,400 teams are inoculating the citizens from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm every day. The first phase of the immunisation will continue until 7 March.

The health directorate said 2,04,540 people across the country got their first shot of Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine Thursday while the turnout was 1,58,451 on Wednesday, 1,01,082 Tuesday, and 46,509 on Monday.

So far, 5,42,309 people have received the Covid-19 vaccine in the country, while over 10 lakh people have already registered for it.