We agree with PM’s call to introduce booster dose

It seems that the coronavirus is here to stay, although in a mutated form, and we have to learn to live with it without allowing it to do us much harm. While there is no denying that its full characteristics in terms of its capacity to affect human beings is still being determined, it is understood that the Omicron variant may spread more easily than its predecessors. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Omicron, which has been detected in 60 countries, poses a "very high" global risk. But this should not cause panic; on the contrary, our experiences should have prepared us psychologically and physically to protect ourselves and mitigate its effects. 

Going by the experiences of other countries, there is no better defence against the virus than getting vaccinated. A redeeming aspect of the matter is that the Covid-19 vaccines are reportedly effective at preventing severe illness. Early research also suggests that a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for Covid improves protection, as claimed by Pfizer, against the severe disease caused by Omicron.

The simple deduction is that there is no alternative than to get as many people as possible to get the jabs. And this is what we feel puts the planners at a quandary. But one need not despair because of the well-planned way things are proceeding with the vaccination programme. Although less than 30 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated in Bangladesh so far, as of December 14, and 50 percent partly, at the rate that people are being vaccinated, at least 70 percent of the population should be fully vaccinated by January 6, 2022. 

Here, we reiterate the call of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that a thorough guideline be formulated for the administration of booster dose. And that must run in tandem with the programme to vaccinate each and every citizen of the country with the initial two doses. We understand that it has been already decided that booster shots will be given to those who are 60 years old and above, and the frontline workers. But perhaps here, too, some flexibility should be built in to consider those below that age who have health conditions that can be compounded by a Covid infection. Moreover, there should be no debate whether to charge people for the booster shot—the government should make it free of cost.