Anwara upazila health officer asked to explain reason for ‘unsafely’ carrying Covid-19 shots

Chattogram civil surgeon today asked Anwara upazila health and family welfare officer for an explanation on the photo published in media which showed Covid-19 vaccines being carried in an "unsafe way" from Chattogram Civil Surgeon office EPI store to the upazila.

Some media outlets today published photos showing boxes carrying the vaccines hanging in and around a CNG-run-auto-rickshaw on Monday. The vaccines were reportedly being taken to Anwara Upazila Health Complex from EPI store at Chattogram civil surgeon office.

Dr Sheikh Fazle Rabbi, civil surgeon of Chattogram, said it is the responsibility of respective health complexes and vaccination centres to take vaccines from EPI store on their own, our Chattogram staff correspondent reports.

"The vaccines are carried in a cold box usually on a microbus or ambulance but we have come to know through media reports that Anwara Upazila Health Complex authority carried them by CNG-run auto-rickshaw," he said.  

"As the vaccines are kept in cold box while they are being transported, we expect there will be no problem with vaccines," he added.

"I formally asked the health complex officials for an explanation about the news published in media. I asked Dr Saif, Anwara upazila health and family welfare officer, for an explanation in two days," he further said.

"An enquiry committee would be formed to investigate into it, if the explanation does not satisfy us."

Dr Saif could not be reached for a comment.