Co-ordination meeting held at DNCC to ensure smooth Covid-19 vaccination activities in the city
During the meeting, it was announced that the first shipment of the vaccine from the Serum Institute of India would arrive in Bangladesh, either by end-January or early-February
A coordination meeting was held at the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) to ensure the smooth disbursement of coronavirus vaccines in the city.
DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam chaired the co-ordination meeting on Sunday morning at Nagar Bhaban in Dhaka, said a press release issued by DNCC.
During the meeting, it was announced that the first shipment of the vaccine from the Serum Institute of India would arrive in Bangladesh, either by end-January or early-February.
30 million doses of vaccine will be dispatched by the Serum Institute during the first phase, and one and a half crore people will be vaccinated.
By the middle of this year, with the help of COVAX, another 60 million doses of vaccine will be available, through which another 30 million people will be vaccinated.
Moreover, DNCC said that the Bangladesh government is already in touch with vaccine manufacturers to directly purchase vaccines.
DNCC authorities hoped that the government would be able to bring a significant number of people in the country under vaccination before the end of this year, the release said.
Mayor Atiqul Islam said, "We have now geared our preparations towards ensuring the best use of the acquired vaccines and finding the optimal way to bring the maximum number of people in the DNCC area under the vaccination program."
"To that end, a committee has been formulated under the supervision of the Prime Minister's Office. This committee has prepared a priority list of health workers, front line workers, immunocompromised and/or chronically ill adults, and the elderly."
"The committee will implement and monitor coronavirus vaccine delivery activities, take necessary measures to control law and order in vaccination centers, and undertake other activities to ensure that vaccination activities run smoothly and seamlessly," added Mayor Atiqul.
Chief Executive Officer of DNCC Md Selim Reza; Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Md Jobaidur Rahman; Director of the Department of Health Md Belal Hossain; Civil Surgeon of Dhaka Moinul Islam; representatives from BRAC and Dhaka Ahsania Mission; Additional Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka AKM Masuduzzaman; Councilor of Ward # 32 in Dhaka Sayed Hasan Nur Islam Rastan; Councilor of Ward # 19 in Dhaka Md Mofizur Rahman; and Councilor of Ward # 44 in Dhaka and Chairman of the DNCC Standing Committee on Health Dr Matin were also present during the meeting.