Children Aged 5-11 to Get Covid-19 Jabs on Trial Basis on Aug 11

Children aged between 5-11 will get vaccine against Covid-19  on experimental basis on August 11, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said on Sunday.

The full-fledged vaccination programme for children will start from August 26, he said while talking to reporters after a programme marking the World Breastfeeding Week-2022 at National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM) in the city.

“Fifteen lakh doses of Pfizer vaccine have arrived on Sunday and we have taken all preparation to bring the children under vaccination programme,” he said.

Currently, the health workers are administering first, second doses and booster shots of Covid-19 vaccine but people will not be able to get second doses after some days as stock of vaccines will expire soon, he said.

He also urged people to take Covid-19 jabs as soon as possible.

Referring to the monkey pox virus, Zahid said already the virus has spread to many countries including those in America and Europe but there is nothing to be worried about as it has not  been declared as pandemic.

About the Breastfeeding Week, the minister said 60-70% children are now under breast feeding and still 40% deliveries take place at home  which should be come down.