Govt plans to vaccinate students aged 12 and above: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today told the parliament that her government has plans to bring students aged 12 and above under the vaccination programme gradually.

The premier said this while replying to a query from Jatiya Party MP Rustam Ali Farazi. The question-answer session was tabled at parliament.

In the scripted answer, the Prime Minister said the government also plans to bring 80 percent people of the country under the vaccination coverage.

Hasina, Leader of the House, said that to vaccinate 50 percent citizens by December 2021, the government is taking measurers as per guidelines of World Health Organization (WHO).

She said to vaccinate disabled persons, cards provided by the respective ministry to bring them under social safety net coverage will be used.

She also said that workers will get vaccines on priority basis.

The PM said that till September 12, government has taken measures to collect 24,65,13,660 vaccines.

Under these measurers, through bilateral agreements, some 4,44,31,880 vaccines have been collected so far.

"Steps have been taken to collect one crore or more doses of vaccines every month," she said.

The premier also said that some six crores -- two crore every month -- doses will come from China's Sinopharm from October to December.

The Prime Minister hoped that the government, with everyone's cooperation, will be able to overcome the pandemic.

"Situation will be normal again and for that, apart from getting vaccinated, everyone must follow health guidelines," she said.