DHAKA, Feb 18, 2022 (BSS) - A total of 18,02,45,749 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered till February 17, 2022 as 9,08,15,846 people have so far been registered to receive vaccines in the country.

"As many as 8,56,66,221 people have been registered using NID cards, 13,93,221 registered using passports and 37,56,404 registered using birth registration certificates," Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) sources said today.

A total of 10,17,54,166 people have so far been administered the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine  while 7,54,85,876  received the second dose across the country during the same period.

“As many as 30,05,707 people have so far received the booster dose of COVID- 19 vaccine to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, according to the data of Management Information System of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Some 28,190 floating people across the country have so far received the first dose of vaccine.

According to the DGHS, Bangladesh has set a target to vaccinate one crore people with COVID-19 jabs on February 26 through launching a nationwide vaccination campaign.

"We will conduct the countrywide COVID-19 vaccination on February 26... a total of one crore people will receive the first dose of coronavirus vaccine," it added.

The health ministry sources said the government has fixed 40 years as the minimum age to receive booster dose as the nationwide COVID-19 booster shot campaign was launched on December 19, 2021 to scale up its efforts for containing the spread of the lethal virus.

"As part of intensifying the nationwide inoculation drive, the government has set 25 years as the minimum age ....meaning people aged 25 years and above are allowed to receive COVID-19 vaccines," it added. On November 1 last year, the vaccination campaign for students aged between 12 and 17 years began across the country.  

The government has set a target to vaccinate people with 28 crore COVID-19 vaccine shots including booster dose.