Fourth dose of Covid vaccine starts from Dec 20

The program of the 4th dose Covid-19 vaccine will begin for the first time on December 20 this year. If there are no complications, this program will be launched across the country from the first day of the new year (January 1).

Professor Dr Ahmedul Kabir, Additional Director General (ADG) of the Directorate General of Health Services, made the disclosure in an emergency press conference on Tuesday (December 6).

He said, it has been decided to give the fourth dose of coronaviurs vaccine to people above 60, combatants and those who have multiple complex diseases. The ongoing vaccination campaign ends on Wednesday (November 7). So, this time we decided to give the fourth dose.

Ahmedul Kabir said, “Seven centers in the capital have been designated under the direction of the Health Minister for the fourth dose of vaccination. These seven centers are—Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Mugda General Hospital, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Sheikh Russell Gastroliver Hospital, Government Employees Hospital, Kurmitola General Hospital and Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital.

Experimentally, 100 people will be vaccinated with the fourth dose at each center. Specific people will be notified the previous day through SMS. Those who will be vaccinated experimentally, will be kept under observation for two weeks. If there are no complications, this program will start from January 1 across the country.

Referring to the reason for giving the fourth dose, Ahmedul Kabir said that usually after four months of vaccination, the antibody level starts to decrease. Besides, this decision has been taken due to the increase of coronavirus infection in different countries recently.