In an effort to contain the spread of Covid-19, vaccination for primary school students aged five and above will start soon after WHO approval, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Monday.

“We have asked the Education Ministry to prepare a list of the students. We also have contacted the World Health Organisation for its approval,” he told reporters after an emergency on nationwide vaccination situation at Bangladesh Secretariat.

The start of the drive for vaccinating primary school students depends on WHO approval, he said in reply to a question.

Besides, the mega vaccination drive for administering second dose will begin on March 28 and will continue till March 30.

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Some 2.25 crore people are likely to receive the second dose during the mega drive, he said.

Maleque said 22 crore doses of Covid vaccines so far have been administered in the country covering 75 per cent of the population.

An amount of Tk 40,000 crore has been spent for purchasing and administering covid doses, he added.

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Since the inauguration of the mass inoculation drive in Bangladesh on February 7 last year, some 8,68,44,218 people have been fully vaccinated with two shots and12,54,90,996 people received their first doses till Sunday (March 6).

Besides, 42,53,378 people have received booster doses, the minister said.