Bangladesh
Vaccine 2nd Dose PM Hasina directs authorities to look for possible shortening of Covid-19 vaccination period
Dhaka, August 23: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the concerned parties to see whether the time interval between the two doses of coronavirus vaccine can be reduced or not, during a cabinet meeting on Monday (August 23).
After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam told reporters at the Secretariat. The Prime Minister joined the meeting virtually from the Ganobhaban, while the ministers from the Cabinet Division in the Secretariat.
"The conditions of workers who work in the factories were specifically discussed [in the meeting]. From the beginning, we have never stopped the industries, production, supply of products. Except for these few (restrictions after Eid) days. That is why it has been discussed in detail," Anwarul Islam said.
"Our ministry has also made an agreement to receive six crore [Covid-19] vaccines from Sinopharm. Instructions have been given on how to bring the workers under a separate program as soon as the doses are made available. The health minister has also confirmed it, he will look into it. The Prime Minister has directed that not only the workers but also their families should be vaccinated," he added.
He further said, "Not only that, the Prime Minister has given special instructions to consider the fact that we are giving two doses in one month's interval, while we have seen many countries giving the second dose in less time. Whether it can be done technically ... It's a technical matter, you amd I can't force anything. In many countries the gap has been reduced. In that case the safety of a person will be more."
"The Prime Minister has directed us to look at the technical side and see if the second dose can be given in a shorter time gap," he said.
Earlier, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque told reporters, "Those who took the first dose are now being given a second dose. The Prime Minister asked whether the time of the second dose could be reduced a little."
"Currently, we are giving [the two doses of the vaccine] in a month. She [Prime Minister Hasina] has asked us to see if we could do it in 15 or 20 days instead of one month. If possible, we will do it," Maleque said.
