The government has taken a fresh move to restart the Covid-19 vaccination campaign (booster dose) as the deadly virus infection started increasing in the country in the last couple of weeks.
The resurgence of the virus started following detection of the highly-infectious omicron sub-variant JN1 in the country last week. The surge sees an infection rate of over 8 per cent.
"Shots meant for 4th dose (booster dose) have been sent to nine dedicated hospitals in Dhaka initially. The campaign will be expanded to other areas gradually," Dr Mohammad Nizam Uddin, member secretary of the Covid-19 Vaccine Management Task Force at the DGHS, told the FE.
Pfizer VCV vaccines would be given as booster shots, he added.
Frontline health workers, people aged 60 years and above, those aged 18 years and above, people with long-term diseases and low immunity, and pregnant women will be given shots on a priority basis, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The vaccination centres are Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), 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.
Health authorities said that people would be able to register on the government's app Surokkha in the next few days.
People could visit the hospitals dedicated for vaccination and take the booster dose both through online registration (once accessible) and manually having their previous papers or vaccine card, he explained.
"The concerned authority will soon sit with the government's a2i officials to incorporate the 4th dose option in the vaccination app, and if it takes some more days, then we will continue the job manually," Dr. Nizam said.
Public health experts suggested cautionary measures as the infection sees a sharp rise in the country.
Public health expert and former DGHS director Dr Be-Nazir Ahmed told the FE that Covid usually hits the country during the period of May-June as seen in the previous year.
"But we need advance preparation and surveillance mechanisms to deal with any situation in the coming days," he added.
He also suggested knowing how many people had so far been infected with the new sub-variant JN1 to take right measures as it was highly infectious.
"We also should analyze and compare the risk of being infected with the deadly virus between vaccinated and unvaccinated people to encourage people to take Covid vaccines," he added.
He also spoke for oxygen storage in hospitals as it is crucial for the treatment of Covid patients. "We need sufficient oxygen supply, high flow nebulizers, ICU beds, and ventilation facilities in hospitals from Dhaka to the district level and some at the Upazila level to tackle any adverse situation. Our experiences in hospitals in the previous years during Covid surge were not satisfactory," Dr. Ahmed said.
Prof. Dr. Md. Shahadat Hossain of DGHS told the FE that the hospitals were well-prepared.
We are now emphasizing vaccination; therefore, we are encouraging people to take vaccines to develop immunity against Covid-19."
The World Health Organisation (WHO) detected this new strain in December last year. WHO classified the omicron sub-variant as "variant of interest" and this sub-variant can spread very quickly but it has a less severity.
Total fatalities from coronavirus rose to 29,481 in the country and the number of infections rose to over 2.0 million as 38 additional cases of infection, including 37 in Dhaka, were detected on Wednesday. The infection rate was 8.41 on Wednesday with a fatality rate of 1.44.
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