Reza Mahmud :
People of the country have not a clear sense about the booster shots of Covid-19 vaccines though the inoculation starting today (Sunday).
Health Minister Zahid Maleque earlier announced that the booster shot of the vaccine would be inoculated to those above 60 years and the front line workers across the country.
The health authorities have chalked out this plan to prevent contamination of the new and high spreading omicron variant of covid.
Those above 60s and front liners are asking repeatedly to the media workers about the procedures on the booster shot inoculations.
Officials from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said that they were going to start a trial phase of boost dose inoculation first.
Meanwhile, the health minister on Saturday said that Pfizer vaccines would be used as booster dose.
But the health officials have not made it clear when the main phase of boosting dose inoculation will be started.
They also have not clearly said if the other vaccines could be used as booster dose.
Ariful Haque, above 60 years old frontline professionals asked on Saturday, “The health authority is to use Pfizer jab as booster shot, but I have received Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines. Then what would be my case? If I get Pfizer or AstraZeneca as the booster dose? When I can get the third dose? If I get any SMS for taking my next shot or I have to contact with the hospital authority who vaccinated me earlier?”
Though the people are seeking answers of such questions, no one was found to reply.
Professor Dr Abul Bashar Muhammad Khurshid Alam, Director General of the DGHS and Dr Shamsul Haque, Member-Secretary of the Vaccine Deployment Committee of DGHS could not be reached to get their speech on this regards.
When contacted, National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) Member Professor Dr Be-Nazir Ahmed, told The New Nation on Saturday, “It is a trial campaigning and that is why the health department may not make many things clear.”
He said, crossing vaccination can be taken as it has been proved as effective matter of preventing covid-19.
“Recipients who got Oxford-AstraZeneca first can be inoculated with Pfizer or Moderna. Such others may get different ones as crossing jab as it has been proved effective,” the Professor said.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque said on Saturday at a function in Manikganj, “Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccines will be used as it has been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).”
Front liners and senior citizens, who have received their second dose at least six months ago will get the booster shots, the health minister said.
He said that the trial run for the booster drive will start at Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons at Mohakhali in the capital on Sunday.
He further said that the number of booster dose recipients will increase gradually.
Earlier on Friday the health minister said there is no vaccine shortage in the country and the authorities are updating the Surokkha app and preparing a list of elderly people and front liners – doctors, nurses, government officials and journalists – for the Covid-19 booster dose inoculation.
