Children aged 5 to11 to get Covid-19 jabs from 11 August

Children aged between 5 to 11 will get vaccine against Covid-19 on a trial basis on 11 August, Health minister Zahid Maleque said on Sunday.

The full-fledged vaccination programme for children will start from 26 August, 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.

“1.5 million 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 to 70 per cent children are now under breast feeding and still 40 per cent deliveries take place at home which should be come down.