Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- A total of 22 million children under five years of age have been targeted to be vaccinated during the government’s immunization program which will begin on January 7, 2012 officials said.

The decision was made at the meeting of the national steering committee on polio eradication and control at the ministry on Thursday with Health minister AFM Ruhal Haque in the chair.

The meeting was informed that children aged upto five years will be provided two drops of polio vaccine, children aged between six to 11 months will get blue color vitamin A capsule and children aged between one to five years will get red color vitamin A capsule the first round of immunization program.

On January 11, the second round of the program, children aged upto five years will be provided two drops of polio vaccine and children aged between two to five years will get deworming tablets.

Health workers will work at 0.14 million specific and 20,000 mobile health centers during the program.

BBN/SSR/AD-16Dec11-8:30 am (BST)