Thousands of people on Sunday rushed to the vaccination center to get jabbed on the third day after the country's health department announced that people could get jabs without registering for vaccines and that activities to provide the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine would be temporarily halted on February 26, causing a massive crowd and chaos at the vaccination center. Even so, law enforcement agency’s members encountered difficulties in dealing with the situation at the Institute of Health Management center of Savar health complex in Savar, on the outskirts of the capital.
Dr. Md. Shamsul Haque, Line Director (MNC & AH) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) told Bangladesh Post that they noticed the matter and continued their vaccination activities till 5:00 pm to manage the situation, which usually lasts until 2:00 p.m. Adding that the Health Minister on Monday will be brief on Monday in this regard that whether there will adopt any initiative to reduce people’s suffering in next, however, for now, we are trying to increase groups to manage such any situation tomorrow.
Dr Sayemul Huda, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer of Savar, said since they started giving COVID-19 jabs without registration, thousands of people including readymade garment workers, started to rush to vaccine centers.
Besides, people also feared that they might not get the vaccine after February 26, if the activities to provide the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine will halt temporarily.
“More than 20 thousand people came to get vaccinated today (Sunday), whereas we have only around 18 vaccine booths in our centre and a total of 70 to 80 health workers and volunteers here, which is not enough to tackle such a huge number of people”, he said, adding that he later informed local police, administration and senior health officials in this regard, and local administration and police officials later rushed to the centre along with policemen to tackle the situation. Besides they provide a total of 12 thousands doses of vaccine this day by continuing their activities till 5:00 pm.
During the time Abdullahel Kafee, Additional Superintendent (Crime) of Dhaka Zila Police, and other local police officers could be seen attempting to manage the situation. Aside from that, some of the volunteers were seen wielding batons to deal with the overcrowding at the center.
Many vaccine seekers said some of them get sick due to this overcrowding besides many of them left the centre without getting vaccinated.
Expressing discontent, Anowara Begum, one readymade garment worker who came to the center to get jabbed said the government should make create a proper environment before announcing such any announcement or conducting a mass vaccination program, and she urged the government not to halt the first doses activities of COVID-19 vaccine as many people did not get vaccinated the first dose yet.
“We are trying our best and have already taken some additional measures to manage such any situation in next, as well as people should also be aware of the situation and cooperate with us, maintaining discipline at center”, Huda said.
Photo Caption: Thousands of people on Sunday rushed to the vaccination center to get vaccinated, which makes huge crowds and chaos at the vaccination center. This photo was taken at the Institute of Health Management center of Savar health complex in Savar on Sunday.
