Children aged between five and 12 will be vaccinated against Covid-19 soon, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Tuesday.

Birth certificate is required to get registered for Covid vaccine, he said.

He was speaking at the inaugural and certificate distribution ceremony of the "Certificate Course on Neurodevelopment Disorder" organised by the Institute of Paediatric Neurodisorder & Autism (IPNA) at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

Read:Children aged 5-12 to be vaccinated by June: Health Minister

“Although several countries of the world have started vaccinating their children, we have not yet been able to vaccinate children. Because, we didn’t receive approval from the World Health Organization (WHO),” he said.

“Now we have got the approval, so we will start the programme very soon.”

He said they have also received the suitable vaccine for children.

There are about 1.5 crore children and it will take time to vaccinate them all. “So get your children registered fast to get them vaccinated,” he urged the parents.

The minister said they have a plan to manufacture vaccine in the country and already selected a land in Gopalganj in this regard. “We will manufacture all the vaccines there.”

The minister also said there will be separate burn units in eight divisions and work has already started in five divisions.

“We have established eight specialised hospitals in eight divisions including one for treatment of cancer and another for heart diseases.”

Read: Govt seeks WHO nod for vaccinating children aged 5 and above: Health Minister

He said a Super Specialized Hospital under BSMMU is  ready and Prime Minister will inaugurate it early September.

He also urged the BSMMU authorities to ensure proper facilities for the patients so that they don’t need to go abroad for treatment.