Dhaka, Feb 7: Bangladesh on Sunday launched its nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive with lawmakers along with top administration and health officials taking the first shots of the vaccine provided by India.
“We are launching the campaign to save lives…This vaccine is completely safe,” Health Minister Zahid Maleque said while inaugurating the campaign at a virtual event at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) here.
Maleque, who took the jab at Sheikh Russel National Gastroliver Institute and Hospital, urged people not to spread propaganda against the vaccine, saying it is safe and has no side effects.
Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain was among the high profile figures to receive the vaccine under a priority list.
“The (Supreme Court’s) Appellate Division is the country’s apex court…All members of the apex court including myself received the jab,” he told reporters at a government hospital in Dhaka.
“I am calling upon the countrymen to get registered quickly (for vaccination),” he added. However, there have been tepid responses from vaccine seekers in the country. Bangladesh on January 21 received as gift from India two million doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine manufactured under license by the Serum Institute of India.
The first consignment of 50 lakh doses of Covishield purchased by the government landed in Dhaka on January 25. Bangladesh has so far purchased 30 million doses from the Serum Institute of India through private Beximco pharmaceuticals under a tripartite agreement.
Health Minister Maleque said that the government is continuing its fight against the coronavirus and the condition of Bangladesh is now better than many other countries. (PTI)
