Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh begins a nationwide coronavirus vaccination programmes today (Sunday), hoping to end a pandemic that has so far killed 8,190 people in the country.
A total of 2,400 teams of health workers will serve people with vaccines in 1,005 centres across the country.
In Dhaka, 204 teams have been deployed in 50 hospitals while 2,196 more teams will work in various vaccination centres in other districts.
Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) ABM Khurshid Alam came up with the remark at a press briefing on Saturday.
Some 3,28,013 people have so far been registered for vaccines till Saturday noon. They will receive text messages about the date and centre for vaccination by tonight. If anybody misses the date, they would be able to get their doses later on any other day.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque will inaugurate the countrywide vaccination drive by receiving vaccine shot at Sheikh Russel Gastroliver Institute & Hospital in the capital’s Mohakhali area at 10am Sunday.
Besides, Home Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain along with his wife will get vaccinated at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital in the capital on the same day.
Besides, eight people have died from Covid-19 in 24 hours (till 8am Saturday), according to a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The total number of deaths has now reached 8,190 and the death rate stands at 1.52 percent.
At least 305 new infections were recorded in the meantime taking the total number of people infected to 5,37,770, added the release.
The current positivity rate is 2.51 percent while the total positivity rate stands at 14.39 percent.
A total of 12,135 samples were tested across the country in 24 hours (till 8am today).
At least 417 Covid-19 patients have recovered during the period.
The total number of recoveries now stands at 4,82,841 and the recovery rate at 89.79 percent.
