Shawdesh desk:

The government has achieved a big success in vaccinating students against coronavirus as 79 percent of students have been given both first and second doses of the corona vaccine in the countrywide vaccination programme to fight the fatal pandemic.

At least 98 percent students of secondary and higher secondary-level students aged between 12 and 18 have received first dose of the vaccine.

According to the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), as many as 1,36,89,627 (98 percent) students, out of total 13,963,695 students, have received one dose of the vaccine while 1,10,40,346 (79 percent) students have received both the doses.

Data shows that 901,261 students got 1st dose of Covid-19 vaccine and 6,40,317 students received 2nd dose in Barishal zone, 17,05,825 students (1st dose) and 12,87,928 (2nd dose) in Chattogram, 11,98,857 (1st dose) and 10,37,770 (2nd dose) in Cumilla, 26,86,246 (1st dose) and 20,70,716 (2nd dose) in Dhaka, 14,68,252 (1st dose) and 11,22,165 (2nd dose) in Khulna, 16,50,454 (1st dose) and 15,33,974 (2nd dose) in Mymensingh, 17,04,291 (1st dose) and 15,64,540 (2nd dose) in Rajshahi, 15,96,266 (1st dose), and 11,18,431 (2nd dose) in Rangpur, and 778175 (1st dose) and 664,505 (2nd dose) in Sylhet zone.

The percentage of vaccination is 93 percent in Barishal zone, 98 percent in Chattogram, 98 percent in Cumilla, 99 percent in Dhaka,  100 percent in Khulna, 98 percent in Rajshahi, 100 percent in Mymensingh, 98 percent in Rangpur, and 95 percent in Sylhet.

DSHE officials said ensuring the vaccine for the large number of students is a one of the great success of the government. Now, the students can join their in-person classes while there is chance of infection rate is poor among the students due to the vaccination.

Meanwhile, the government is also taking preparations for the vaccination of the primary school students but vaccinating the primary school students depends on the approval of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Monday said that vaccination for the primary school students aged five and above will start soon after WHO approval aiming to contain the spread of Covid-19.

He also said, “We have asked the Education Ministry to prepare a list of the students. We have also contacted the WHO for its approval.”

Sources of the education ministry said they are also taking necessary preparations to start the drive for vaccinating primary school students after getting approval of WHO in this regards.

Earlier, on November 1 last year the campaign to vaccinate school students aged between 12-17 against Covid-19 began in the capital aiming to ensure smooth running of academic activities amid the fresh surge of coronavirus.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque and Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni inaugurated the vaccination campaign at Motijheel Ideal School and College in the capital.

Early January this year, the education ministry took a decision to start a massive drive to bring all students under the vaccination between January 15 and January 31 aiming to start regular classes.

The decision came up following the decision of a National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) meeting held on January 9.

To implement the plan, the education ministry has chalked out a programme to inoculate all unvaccinated school students with at least the first dose of the vaccine by January 31.

A joint initiative by the education ministry and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) implemented the vaccine drive between January 15 and January 31.