Bangladesh has ramped up efforts to vaccinate teachers, support staff of schools and colleges, and their families as the country pushes to resume physical classes in educational institutions in the coming weeks. Addressing parliament on Thursday, Bangladesh Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina said, “I have instructed that schools and colleges reopen quickly. Preparations are being taken. Teachers are receiving vaccines. We are also arranging for other school employees and their families to receive the doses.”

The government is taking steps to ensure the vaccines reach all government workers and those they encounter regularly, she said.

Authorities are working to ensure that all who work in our various agencies, their families, their domestic help, their drivers, the families of their drivers – everyone gets the vaccine so that the disease cannot spread any further, Hasina said. 

Officials are finalizing plans to procure Pfizer and Moderna-- the two vaccines cleared by the WHO for children. Hasina said, “We have sent payments for these vaccines – payments for nearly 60 million doses.” 

The government has faced intense criticism for mishandling the Covid-19 situation in the last few months. 

Defending the government’s response Hasina said, “If you look at the reality of the situation (here) compared to other countries, many advanced nations have not been able to control it the way we have despite our high population density.” 

(SAM)