30 hurt in stampede at Savar vaccination centre

Representational image. Covid-19 - People wait in a queue for COVID- 19 test at a government designated hospital, in New Delhi, India June 10, 2020. AP Photo-Manish Swarup

Savar, Feb 23 — At least 30 people, including volunteers and police, were  injured in a stampede when a large number of vaccine seekers gathered at Bangladesh Health Professional Institution vaccine center in Savar upazila of Dhaka on Wednesday.   

Among the injured, 11 were sent to Savar Upazila Health Complex.

Savar Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Sayemul Huda said the center has already been expanded to handle the situation. 

Besides, additional 10 nurses have been recruited from the Civil Surgeon's Office. “Tomorrow (Thursday), men and women will be vaccinated at separate centers.”

He added that vaccination programme at the centre is being carried out everyday till 6 pm.

The number of vaccine seekers at the centre  started to increase since the announcement of completing the first dose vaccination programme by February 26, said locals.

Although the officials at the vaccine centre announced that regular vaccination campaign will continue even after the date the crowd is not declining, they said. 

Many people are returning without getting vaccinated every day after waiting in long queues.

Meanwhile, Mainul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Savar Model Police Station, said a large number of police have been deployed to tackle  the crowd  at the centre. - UNB