First batch of Covid-19 vaccines reach Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barishal and Bogura

Covid-19 vaccines have started to reach Rajshahi division, Sylhet division, Barishal division and Bogura district in the country today.

In Rajshahi division, shots of Covid-19 vaccines reached eight districts today. But the vaccination campaign is likely to be delayed for more than a week to complete necessary preparations, reports our Rajshahi staff correspondent.

Photo: Star

Beximco Pharmaceuticals supplied at least 7.2 lakh doses of vaccines to the cold storage units of district headquarters, Dr Habibul Ahsan Talukder, the divisional director of Directorate General of Health Services said.

"We will not hurry with the vaccines. We will move for vaccination only when we know that our preparations are fool proof. We still have to train the health workers and to prepare the vaccination centres," he said.

The DGHS' Rajshahi divisional director said they will complete all necessary preparations by February 7, a date scheduled by the government for nationwide inoculation.

On February 1 and 2, five health workers from each of all 67 upazilas will be called to the district headquarters for a one-day orientation on how to administer the vaccines and primary care.

Photo: Titu Das/Star

In Sylhet division, Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts received vaccines and have stored them in the EPI Centres of the districts.

Meanwhile, Sylhet and Sunamganj districts of the division will receive the vaccine on Sunday, instead of today as there will be no electricity in Sylhet city and its suburbs and one upazila in Sunamganj from tomorrow morning to afternoon, reports our Sylhet correspondent.

"Considering that there might be trouble storing vaccines, the process of sending vaccines to Sylhet and Sunamganj was postponed today. The vaccines will reach the two districts on Sunday," said Dr Anisur Rahman, assistant director of the divisional office of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Due to the development work at the power grid, Bangladesh Power Development Board in Sylhet circulated a notification a few days before about the power cut off.

According to the health office, a total of 44,400 vials of vaccine are allotted for Sylhet division for the first phase. Among them, 22,800 vials for Sylhet, 8,400 vials for Sunamganj, 6,000 for Moulvibazar and 7,200 for Habiganj.

In Barishal division, 3.12 lakh of Covid-19 doses reached five out of six districts except Pirojpur.

At least 36,000 doses will reach Pirojpur from Khulna division within January 31, reports our Barishal correspondent quoting Dr Bashudev Kumar Das, divisional health director.

A total of 3.48 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccines were allocated for Barishal division in the first phase.

In Bogura town, a total of 12,000 vials of vaccines reached this morning.

"This vaccine can be administered to 1.8 lakh people," Dr Gawsul Azim, civil surgeon of Bogura told The Daily Star.

The vaccine is now being preserved at the district's EPI store, he added.

City dwellers who are interested in taking the Covid-19 vaccine have started to fill out online forms since yesterday.

"Those who will administer vaccines will be given a four-day training first. The vaccination programme will then begin according to the instructions of the government," he said adding that the training will start from tomorrow.