Vaccination will start soon: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said that vaccination will start soon and work is underway to collect 30 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The Premier informed the matter while responding to a query of MP Kazim Uddin Ahmed (Mymensingh-11) in the question-answer session scheduled for the Prime Minister in the Jaitya Sangsad on Wednesday. 

The Prime Minister said due to timely guidance, initiatives, plan adoption and implementation by the government, the Covid-19 infection and mortality rate in the country is relatively less than other countries in the world. “The 8th Five-Year Plan has already been approved, taking into account the current Covid-19 situation in the country and its impact on the economy. The implementation period of this plan will be from July 2020 to June 2025,” she said. 

The Premier said government expenditure has been increased to implement the immediate and short-term measures taken by the Bangladesh government to mitigate the adverse socio-economic effects caused by the Covid-19 global epidemic and to increase employment opportunities. Besides, overseas travel and luxury spending have been discouraged.

She added that 6,990 doctors, 5,024 senior staff nurses, 381 pharmacists and 202 medical technologists have been recruited amid the Covid period. Besides, 4,218 doctors have been added to the hotline as volunteers to provide information and medical services on coronavirus infection.

Sheikh Hasina said samples of Covid-19 are being tested daily in a total of 91 laboratories, including 54 in Dhaka and 37 outside Dhaka. Besides, 5,100 doctors and 1,700 nurses from 64 districts of the country have been imparted training on Coronavirus Clinical Management and Infection Prevention and Control through the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Due to the Covid-19 crisis, the government has announced 21 incentive packages worth Tk 1,12,733 crore to protect the livelihoods of people from different sectors, classes and professions, which is 4.03 percent of the country’s GDP, said the Sangsad leader.

Earlier, a tabled question session was raised while the Jatiya Sangsad session was started under the chairmanship of Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury.