Healthcare experts have identified limited access to information on vaccines and Covid-19 related medicare facilities as the existing myths about the country's health sector.
To dispel such myths, they suggested, the government should regularly disclose all required information received from official or authentic sources so that people do not rely on secondary sources.
They also recommended involvement of professionals in the policymaking process instead of depending on bureaucrats largely to make service delivery more friendly and accessible.
The observations and suggestions came at the third episode of FE dialogue titled "Myth-busting on vaccines, glimmer on hope" held on Thursday.
Dr Shafiun Nahin Shimul, Associate Professor, Institute of Health Economics, University of Dhaka, moderated the virtual discussion.
Speaking at the webinar, Professor of Institute of Health Economics at Dhaka University Dr Syed Abdul Hamid said still there are many myths about the vaccines although Bangladesh is a successful country for immunization.
Lack of transparency in the information disclosed by government sources prompted many to rely on secondary sources like social media from where speculations were created, he added.
"The possibility of spreading rumours can be ruled out if we can ensure authentic information from proper sources and proper time whether it goes against the government," Mr Hamid said.
He was slightly critical over taking decisions based on the opinions from the people in the administration. Instead of practice, he suggested involving professionals in policymaking for better outcomes.
In his welcome speech, editor of The Financial Express (FE) Shah Husain Imam said perception has qualitatively changed soon after a good number of vaccines having passed clinical trials come to the market.
"From uncertainty and unpredictability of the dark, we have arrived at the dawn of hope, wellbeing and self-prepared," he said, reminding that anybody left out of the inoculation process will pose threat to others.
Dr Mohammad Mushtuq Husain, Consultant, Crisis Emergency and Risk Communication (WBG), IEDCR, said it is usual for the people to have too many questions about new coronavirus vaccines.
The myths are coming from two sources-overseas and local. There is an international lobby against the antidote while unethical competition among global drug companies often contributes to creating some speculations, he said.
Political, ethnic and religious division within a nation sometimes raised some issues which are not scientific, Mr Husain said.
"We need to attach proper importance to these issues and address these with patience if we want to do myth-busting, which is created in absence of proper information," he added.
Professor Dr Shah Monir Hossain, former Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), said vaccine producers completed all the phases quickly to develop the much-needed dose considering it an emergency issue.
"Without knowing the results of clinical trials, the producers created risks and invested in production, infrastructure and necessary logistics all together. That's why we got the vaccine too early," he said.
Mr Hossain also stressed the need for developing immunity surveillance teams to check whether the antibody is really developed after inoculation.
Professor Dr Md. Anwar Hossain, Vice Chancellor, Jashore University of Science and Technology, hailed the government for introducing good immunisation activities across the country.
"We saw some weaknesses in diagnosis of Covid-19 infections but the vaccination activities are going on in a much-structured way, which is a good sign," he said.
Calling upon people to get vaccinated without fear, he said there is no alternative to vaccines to activate the wheels of the economy properly.
