Sylhet gears up but challenges remain

With residents of Sylhet eagerly waiting for the Covid-19 vaccine, the authorities concerned are struggling to ensure a smooth vaccination campaign.

Even though the cold-chain (temperature-controlled supply chain) for vaccines is ready, health personnel are yet to finalise a priority list for vaccination. At the same time, vaccination centres in the division are being set up but health workers and volunteers are yet to be trained to conduct the programme.

Meanwhile, concerned citizens have urged the government to raise awareness among people to rule out misinformation and rumours and ensure clarity and accountability in the vaccination campaign.

Abdur Rahim, a shopkeeper in the city's Baluchar area, said, "I was hoping to get the vaccine soon, but now I'm confused after seeing media reports and social media posts on its adverse effects."

Abdul Hasib, a union healthcare assistant of Companiganj upazila in Sylhet, said, "Even though there are rumours and misinformation about the vaccine, I have seen hundreds of people in far remote villages eager to get vaccine. I'm also waiting to be vaccinated."

Faruque Mahmud Chowdhury, president of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan), Sylhet chapter, said, "People always believe in rumours but it is understandable that every vaccine may have some side effects and that's normal".

"We are seeing awareness advertisements in newspapers, but the government should start a mass awareness campaign to dispel misinformation," he said.

Asked, health officials assured that they will start such campaigns soon.

Meanwhile, the city and four district committees for vaccination campaign in Sylhet division are busy preparing a priority list, as per instruction of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). There are 15 priority groups who will be vaccinated in the first phase.

In the first phase, Sylhet division will get a total of 44,400 vaccines -- 22,800 for Sylhet, 6,000 for Moulvibazar, 7,200 for Habiganj and 8,400 for Sunamganj, according to health officials.

Dr Zahidul Islam, chief health officer of Sylhet City Corporation (SCC), said, "Priority groups cover numerous sectors and we're struggling to finalise the list. Not all sectors are responding timely, while some are forwarding incomplete information."

Civil Surgeons of the districts are facing similar situations. However, they are hopeful to finalise the list soon, said Dr Premananda Mandal, civil surgeon of Sylhet.

"We have to ensure that everyone gets the vaccine…," he said.

Meanwhile, vaccination centres are being set up at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital and all district and upazila level hospitals. SCC is also preparing several city hospitals and 10 additional vaccination teams on demand. However, health officials could not confirm the total number of centres in the division yet.

Each centre will have two vaccination staff members and four volunteers. But their training has not started yet and the list of volunteers remains unprepared.

Dr Mohammad Abdullah Al Mehedy, upazila health and family planning officer of Zakiganj in Sylhet, said, "We have experiences in administering Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccines to children… we hope that we'll be able to manage Covid-19 vaccination smoothly too," he said.

"But, we are waiting for the training and further instructions," he added.

Dr Anisur Rahman, assistant director (disease control) of Sylhet divisional health office, said, "The training will start soon. It will be conducted by experts of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Serum Institute of India."

Meanwhile, to monitor adverse effects of the vaccine, a divisional committee of 14 doctors has been formed along with four district and one city committees.

So  far, a total of 15,968 people have been infected with Covid-19 in Sylhet  division till yesterday with 5 cases in the last 24 hours. Among the  infected, 272 died and 15,058 have recovered while 39 infected patients  are admitted to different hospitals in the division.