At the beginning of 2021, the Bangladesh government began the rollout of a national COVID-19 vaccination plan, with the first vaccinations taking place in the capital at the end of January. Over the next month, more than three million Bangladeshis received their first dose of a vaccine.
The government has now confirmed that Rohingya refugees will be included in the national vaccination roll out using the same criteria for prioritizing the most vulnerable as for Bangladeshi nationals. This includes older age groups, frontline health workers, volunteers, and teachers, among others. Refugees are expected to start receiving vaccinations in the coming weeks.
“Bangladesh has shown remarkable solidarity, as well as foresight, in the inclusion of Rohingya refugees in all planning since the beginning of the pandemic, including the ongoing vaccination campaign,” said UNHCR’s Dr. Maina.
Read the full story originally published in UNHCR here.
Image credits: Oxfam International
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