A record 12 million people have been vaccinated on 26th February, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque.
He said that more vaccines than the target have been administered through the mass vaccination on Saturday.
“A total of 12 million people were vaccinated yesterday (Saturday). Of them, 11 million were administered the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine. So, 73 percent of the population have been vaccinated,” he said.
The Minister made the statement while speaking at the orientation programme of 4,000 doctors appointed in the 42nd BCS health cadre, held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on Sunday.
“We have met almost 100 percent of the World Health Organization's target. The duration of the new vaccination programme has been extended by two more days,” he said.
Zahid Maleque said that Bangladesh has become the first in Southeast Asia to control the transmission of coronavirus.
“We have achieved success in dealing with coronavirus. A lot of work had to be done to make this possible. The hospitals had to make arrangements for 20 separate beds for Covid patients. Telemedicine services had to be arranged including setting up of labs and oxygen plants,” he added.
He further said that a total of 206 million doses of vaccine have been given in the country so far.
“I have seen reluctance among people to take vaccines in different countries of the world. Anti-vaccination movement and vandalism took place in many countries. However, our people took the vaccine, which is why we have been able to deal with coronavirus,” he said.
Addressing the newly recruited doctors, the minister said, “Those of you who have been newly recruited have a lot of work to do. Infectious diseases have increased in the country. About 70 percent of people die from these diseases.”
Health Secretary Lokman Hossain Miah and Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam were also present on the occasion.
A total of 60 mobile vaccination centres will immunize at each zone of Barishal, Sylhet, Cumilla and Mymensingh while 25 mobile vaccination centres will extend their inoculation services at Khulna, Rajshahi, Chattagram and Rangpur.
A total of 19,50,81,035 doses of COVID-19 vaccines including booster dose were administered till February 26, 2022 across the country.
"A total of 10,95,81,331 people have been administered the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine till February 26 while 8,19,39,878 received the second dose across the country during the same period," according to the data of Management Information System of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
As many as 35,59,826 people have so far received the booster dose of COVID- 19 vaccine to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, it added.
Some 37,585 floating people across the country have so far received the first dose of vaccine.
As of February 25, a total of 9,48,94,147 people have been registered to receive COVID-19 vaccines in the country, the DGHS sources said.
"As many as 8,81,49,240 people have been registered using NID cards, 14,34,259 registered using passports and 53,10,648 registered using birth registration certificates."