The government has stored sufficient anti-rabies vaccines at upazila, district, and central levels, ensuring no shortage even if dog bite incidents increase, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain assured parliament on Wednesday.
Responding to a starred and supplementary question from Chattogram-16 MP Mohammad Zahirul Islam during the National Parliament session, the minister said vaccines have been stockpiled across four tiers to prevent any crisis.
The health minister explained that rabies patients must receive four vaccine doses over 18 days according to a fixed schedule, starting from hour zero. Sufficient quantities have been stored in every upazila and district keeping this demand in mind.
“If a particular upazila experiences a sudden increase in patients and its stock runs out, supplies can be immediately obtained from a neighbouring upazila,” Sakhawat Hossain said.
He added that if a shortage arises there as well, supplies will be provided from district-level stocks. Should district stocks also run out, the concerned district collector will arrange for immediate purchase of necessary vaccines.
Meanwhile, necessary measures will remain in place until new supplies arrive from the Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD).
Addressing lawmakers, the minister said, “We have stored vaccines at four levels. I want to assure the honourable members, Insha’Allah, even if dog bite incidents increase in Ashwin, by the grace of Allah, there will be no shortage of vaccines.”
