Shawdesh Desk:

The government started administering the fourth dose — second booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday.

Professor Ahmedul Kabir, additional director general of the Directorate General of Health Services, inaugurated the campaign at 9:30am at Kurmitola General Hospital in Dhaka.

The government has taken the initiative to administer a fourth dose against Covid-19 as the antibody from the vaccine doesn’t last long, said Ahmedul Kabir.

‘Our aim is to vaccinate 80 lakh people in five categories at the moment though four crore people are eligible to receive the fourth dose in the country. Already 460 people have received the fourth dose on a trial basis,’ he said.

The priority will be given to frontline workers and pregnant women, he added.

Shamshul Haque, DGHS director of the vaccine campaign, said 15 crore people got the first dose, 12 crore the second dose, and 6.5 crore the third dose of vaccine against Covid-19.

‘Still there are 1.33 lakh doses of vaccine in stock and will bring more after administering those. There are 11.5 crore people aged above 18 years and all will get vaccinated with the second booster dose in phases,’ he added.

According to an earlier announcement, the fourth dose will be given at seven centers in the beginning.

One hundred people will be vaccinated at each designated centre and they will be kept under observation for two weeks, said the ADG.

All citizens having health risks will be vaccinated with the second booster dose from January 1 next year.