Primary School Students Will Get COVID Jabs: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that children under 12 years will be brought under the coverage of Covid-19 vaccination.

“That means, primary school students will get the shots. We have approached the World Health Organization (WHO) and hope to secure their clearance soon,” she said on Thursday.

She made the remarks while virtually attending the event to confer the “Bangabandhu Science and Technology Fellowship,” “NST Fellowship” and special research donation among teachers, scientists, researchers, and science students of different universities and research institutes.

“We have reopened schools and colleges, which will continue academic activities just like before,” said Sheikh Hasina.

Bangladesh is now inoculating children who are at least 12 years old, but seeks to vaccinate under-12s, she added.

“I believe we will get the WHO’s greenlight to vaccinate young children soon. If we can start vaccinating children as young as 7 to 8 years old, there will be no problem with [in-person classes at] primary schools,” said the prime minister.

She said her administration emphasizes on safety of the children and has taken all measures to ensure it.

According to official figures, some 124.69 million people have received the first dose as of Tuesday while some 84.79 million people have received both shots.