Booster Vaccines for Over-60s: Health Min

Booster doses of vaccine will be given to people over the age of 60 who are most at risk for coronavirus infection. Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque has said that the date will be fixed after discussion.

He made the remarks at a press conference after an inter-ministerial meeting at the Secretariat on Tuesday (November 30).

"We know that the elderly are most at risk for Covid-19," he said. It has been decided that those who are over 60 years of age, seriously ill, will be given a booster dose. It is also being given in many countries.

He said that so far 60 million people have been vaccinated with single dose. 40 million people have received double dose of vaccine. Vaccination activities have been taken up to community clinics.

Zahid Maleque said that the government has decided to go for 'No Vaccine, No Service' system as there is a lack of interest among the people in getting coronavirus vaccine. If we can do this, our vaccination program will be faster, and people will come forward to get vaccinated. We will send letters to various departments instructing them to implement it.

He further said that the school-college will remain open as it is. And as time or class days are not extended.

Urging all to abide by the rules of health as well as not to hold mass rallies to prevent Omicron, the health minister said the slackness that has come in the country after the coronavirus infection reduced would be controlled again.

He said passengers from countries where the Omicron variant was found would have to undergo a 14-day formal quarantine. The arriving person will have to go through Covid-19. If the test report is positive, he/she should be in isolation. He/she will have to bear the cost of quarantine. If no one can afford it, it will be considered.