Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Director General (DG) Prof Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam has said that the government won’t provide first and second doses of Covid-19 vaccine after October 3.

The DG said this during a press conference at the conference room of DGHS in the capital Wednesday noon.

“On the occasion of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s birthday, we’ve started a special vaccination campaign for those who haven’t received first and second doses of Covid-19 vaccine yet. The campaign will continue till October 3 and we won’t provide the first two doses of the vaccine after this time. However, we’ll keep administering the booster doses,” said Khurshid.

About the fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, the DG said that it’ll be provided once World Health Organization (WHO) allows it.

Pointing out that the government has already reached its vaccination target, Khurshid added that they’re trying to increase the pace of vaccination campaigns as there are still some people who are unvaccinated.   

Read: First dose of Covid-19 vaccine won’t be administered after Oct 3: Health Minister

“Out of the country’s total population, 97 per cent has received the first dose of the vaccine while the rates of receiving the second and booster doses of the vaccine are 90 percent and 41 per cent respectively. Our stock is limited while the expiry dates of some of the vaccines are also approaching. The good news is that we still have three crore doses of vaccine,” Khurshid added.

Dr Shamsul Haque, member of DGHS’s vaccination committee, informed during the press briefing that vaccination campaign for children aged between 5-11 years will begin at the district and upazila levels on October 11.

Prof Dr Ahmedul Kabir, Additional DG (Admin) of DGHS and Dr Nazmul Islam, Director (Disease Control) of DGHS, among others, were present during the press conference.