It was a year ago that the first COVID-19 vaccines shared through COVAX landed in Bangladesh. COVAX is a ground-breaking global collaboration led by UNICEF and partners, which is committed to the production and equitable distribution of vaccines across the world. Since those doses touched down in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, the country has become the largest recipient of COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX.
At the beginning of June 2021, less than four per cent of Bangladesh’s population had received two doses. One year on, that number now stands at more than 68 per cent.
That achievement is thanks to the efforts of Bangladesh’s government, health officials and development partners. It’s also been made possible by the enormous sacrifice and dedication of health workers and volunteers.
Mammoth task to vaccinate over 115 million people with two doses
Across the country, frontline health workers have been working in urban slums, trekking across fields and navigating rivers to get doses into people’s arms. Thanks to their efforts, over 250 million doses have now been administered, with more than 115 million people receiving two doses of the vaccine.
Young volunteers like Mohammad Al Mamun have risen to the challenge. He’s been going door to door in Naogaon district in northern Bangladesh, urging people to get vaccinated and helping them register.