Minister of Health and Family Welfare Zahid Maleque said there is no fear of getting infected with coronavirus if one is vaccinated but there is fear if one is not vaccinated. The vaccine is now a big weapon against the virus.
The minister made the remarks while addressing a special briefing at the Manikganj Deputy Commissioner's Conference Room on Saturday afternoon.
He also said, “Bangladesh is already being praised for securing the vaccine. Many countries have not yet received the vaccine, and it is doubtful whether they would be able to avail it in the next two to three months. For example, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka have not yet been able to acquire the vaccine. Bangladesh, as the 23rd country in the world, has already started vaccination. Criticizing after staying at home is easy, but the reality is much harder, he added.
The health minister further said that the vaccine did not come by chance. We have had to stick to this vaccine process for the last 6 months. We had sent letters to all those who are making the vaccine and had video conferences with them. The Serum Institute of India is one of the best vaccine manufacturers. Sixty percent of the world's all vaccines are made at the institute. From there we have made arrangements to bring this vaccine.
“Many days have been spent on this process. All countries were putting pressure before the vaccine’s arrival. We had booked and sent earlier and negotiated with them. We have already paid for three crore vaccines. Indian government has given 20 lakh vaccines as gifts to the people of Bangladesh. We have 7 million vaccines at hand at the moment. We have ordered 6 and a half crore vaccines from WHO. They will supply us when there are enough vaccines,” the minister added.
He said, “A procedure for vaccination would be followed. The vaccine will be given to the front liners first. Then it will be given to the senior citizens and others in phases. We have dealt with Covid-19 successfully and we will be successful in vaccinating as well. There are always some critics to every endeavor. There is a lot of hype about the vaccine. Each drug has side effects but we did not stop taking drugs. I will not say that the vaccine will not have side effects. After vaccination, fever or headache may occur, it is normal. All the people we have vaccinated so far are fine. People of European countries and India are well after taking this vaccine.
The health minister said the vaccine would be given in the first phase among doctors, nurses, health workers, government officials, public representatives, journalists and other frontline fighters. The vaccine will be given to the public later. Already 42,000 workers have been trained to administer the vaccine.
Manikganj Deputy Commissioner SM Ferdous presided over the briefing while Superintendent of Police Rifat Rahman Shamim addressed the meeting, Civil Surgeon Anwarul Amin Akhand, District Awami League President Advocate Golam Mohiuddin, General Secretary Advocate Abdus Salam, Diabetes Association General Secretary Sultanul Azam Khan Apel, Press Club President Golam Charwar Chanu, General Secretary Atindra Chakraborty Biplob and others addressed it.
