The countrywide six-day COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign today began with spontaneous participation of people for receiving vaccines from designated centers.

“The nationwide COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign began at 9am this morning and it will continue till 3pm. People are receiving vaccines from designated centers spontaneously,” Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam told BSS.

The mass vaccination campaign started this morning simultaneously at 4,600 unions, 1054 wards under municipalities and 12 city corporations including Dhaka.

“During the six-day campaign, people at union levels will be vaccinated only today… but the campaign will be extended two days more for hard-to-reach unions,” the DGHS chief added.

People aged 25 years and above will be vaccinated during this extended inoculation drive, Alam said adding that the people aged 50 years and above will get priority to receiving vaccines.

Member Secretary of the vaccination management committee Dr Shamsul Haque said the government has set a target to vaccinate to 32 lakh people during the mass inoculation campaign.

The people will receive COVID-19 vaccines only showing their NID cards, he added.

Rohingya people will be vaccinated from August 10 to 12, Shamsul said adding, “We will continue mass vaccination drive from today to Thursday at 12 city corporations and municipalities across the country.”