Reza Mahmud :
Chaos, overcrowding, long queues with breaching of safety measures at vaccination centres created a disappointing situation on the first day of nationwide mass vaccination campaign on Saturday.
Anarchy swayed at the Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital vaccination center as thousands rushed there for receiving jabs.
About 4,000 people, men and women, were found in queue on the second floor of the hospital.
They started quarrels with Ansar personnel and hospital staff after becoming tired as the vaccination was progressing at a snail’s pace.
Irritated by the ‘mismanagement’, the vaccine seekers said the situation turned worse as there were no separate queues for women.
“The vaccine centre was originally designated for Bangladeshi expatriates before being selected for the mass vaccination. As a result, the hospital had to face extra pressure,” said Professor Dr Md Shahadat Hossain, Vice-Principal of the Suhrawardy Medical College.Besides, many vaccine seekers returned in despair getting a shot even after waiting for hours in long queues in different vaccination centers in the capital.
“I had come here with hope of getting a covid-19 vaccine. But I am now returning without having a jab waiting for two hours in a long queue,” said Muhammad Imran at Pirerbagh vaccination centre in Dhaka.
Expressing frustration, he said he came here as the officials called them through loudspeaker propaganda campaigns, but many of them had not got vaccines.
Md Ismail Mollah, Ward-13 Councilor of Dhaka South City Corporation said several thousand people came to the Pirerbagh vaccination center, but about 350 persons have been vaccinated there for the limitation.
He said, “We will introduce token system from Sunday on first come first service basis to avoid chaos.”
Similarly, at Rampura and Banosree center of the DNCC’s Ward-22, vaccination center, several thousand people were on queues in the two booths, but only 350 persons got the jabs.
The hundred others returned home without being vaccinated as the jabs ended by 12pm at noon.
People who failed to be vaccinated became anger and disappointed over the mismanagement of the campaigns.
“We have stood for long hours. We are elderly people, but many youths get vaccines who captured the front line violating the queue,” said Jamal Mustafa, a resident of neighboring Ulan area.
Meanwhile, the volunteers of the center started giving serial for the next day (Sunday) vaccination, which created indiscipline violating health safety rules.
Nasirul Haque, a private service holder said that he faced huge crowed and anarchies before vaccination of her mother at a center in Mohakhali, at the city.
The government introduced the mass vaccination with a target to inoculate at least 3.2 million people against the Covid-19 across the country.
The vaccines are being administered in 4,600 unions, 1,054 municipalities and 433 wards of city corporations across the country. Experts showed anxiety saying that the chances of contracting the virus are higher in crowded places.
When contacted, Professor Dr. M. Muzaherul Huq, former Advisor of the World Health Organisation told The New Nation on Saturday, “The Government deserves congratulation for its decision of mass vaccination. In achieving its goal mass vaccination must achieve the goal of containing the corona transmission as well as nation’s goal to achieve’ Herd immunity.”
The health rules were not properly maintained in different areas, it is a matter of anxiety, he said.
“It is to be ensured that health measures are properly maintained in vaccination centres,” he said.
