RANGPUR, April 8, 2021 (BSS) – After receiving 3.75 lakh doses of more COVID-19 vaccines in the second phase on Wednesday, the health department today began vaccination of the jabs as the second dose alongside continuation of the first dose in Rangpur division.
Health officials said covered freezer vans of Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited brought 3.75 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the Civil Surgeon’s offices in Rangpur division on Wednesday to inoculate the jabs as the second dose from today.
The Civil Surgeons preserved the newly Oxford-AstraZeneca’s vaccines in Ice-Lined Refrigerators (ILR) at the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Stores after receiving those in all eight districts of Rangpur division.
In the second phase, the Civil Surgeons have received 1,14,000 doses for Rangpur, 66,000 doses for Dinajpur, 30,000 for Kurigram, 27,000 for Lalmonirhat, 36,000 for Gaibandha, 48,000 doses for Nilphamari, 24,000 doses for Panchagarh and 30,000 doses for Thakurgaon districts in the division.
“More vaccines will reach Rangpur division in phases to provide both the first and second doses of the jabs timely,” Focal Person of COVID-19 and Assistant Director (Health) for Rangpur division Dr. ZA Siddiqui told BSS today.
Earlier in the first phase, six lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccines were received on January 31 last and the Civil Surgeons stored those in the same way in the ILR at the EPI Stores strictly maintaining the cold chain.
Talking to BSS, Divisional Director (Health) Dr Md Ahad Ali said registered citizens who got the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccines on February 7 and February 8 last, are getting the second dose in Rangpur division today.
“After getting six lakh doses of the COVID-19 vaccines on January 31 last, we have vaccinated a total 5,72,692 citizens, including 3,43,683 male and 2,29,009 female, with the first dose of jabs and the process continues in the division,” he said.
Dr Ali said the registered citizens can get the second dose of the vaccine after two months since the first dose vaccination and receiving an SMS on a mobile phone.
“But, who have been vaccinated two months ago but not received an SMS, must come with the vaccine card and a photocopy of the vaccine card,” he said, adding that everyone arriving for the second dose must bring a vaccine card and a national identity card.
“If the vaccine card is lost or damaged, the card can be picked up again online,” Dr Ali said, adding that the second dose of the vaccine cannot be taken before the completion of two months, but can be taken later up to 12 weeks.
Civil Surgeon of Rangpur Dr. Herambo Kumar Roy said rolling out of the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccines began today at sixteen booths set up at Rangpur Medical College Hospital and other seven upazila health complexes in Rangpur district.
“We are inoculating the registered citizens with the first as well as second doses of the COVID-19 vaccines strictly following the guidelines and direction of the government,” the Civil Surgeon added.
Similarly, inoculation of the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccines began from today in Dinajpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Panchagarh and Thakurgaon districts of the division alongside continuation of the vaccination of the first dose.