A timely call from experts about vaccination.

Experts' call for the government to explore more sources of Covid-19 vaccines, instead of relying only on the ones currently being considered, and take part in vaccine trials immediately to meet future needs indeed deserves attention of the relevant authorities. According to a news run by The News Today on Monday, experts made the call while speaking at a discussion in the Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) conference room in the capital Sunday. Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum (BHRF) organised the event as part of a series of dialogues on Covid- 19. Bangladesh has already made an advance payment of Tk 509 crore for three crore doses of Covid-19 vaccine from Serum Institute India (SII). The government has also announced that it will procure 68 million shots of vaccine under a global arrangement called COVAX. But none can say for sure when the vaccines will arrive here and, more importantly, how long these vaccines will give immunity. If the coronavirus regularly mutates -- like the influenza virus -- we may need regular vaccination. In this case, as experts opine, we should think of sustainable sources. Six Covid-19 vaccines are already on the market while another 14 are in the pipeline. Moreover, several of these vaccines will be safer, effective and viable for countries like Bangladesh in the coming days. Experts came up with the call at a time when the Directorate General of Health Services in its update every day informs the nation of a fluctuating trend both in the number of new corona cases and death because of the virus. Even the government, the Prime Minister in particular, has so far warned on several occasions of a second wave, asking all to strictly comply with the health guidelines, especially wearing facemasks in public. Regrettably, however, a large section of people still look...