Staff Reporter :
1.70 crore children aged nine months to fifteen years have been vaccinated against typhoid in the nationwide campaign running until November 13, revealed at a review meeting held at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital on Thursday.
The event was jointly organised by the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), UNICEF Bangladesh, and the Health Protection Foundation to assess progress and explore ways to further strengthen the campaign. At the meeting, it was informed that children aged between one month and under 15 years are the most vulnerable to typhoid fever in Bangladesh.
A 2021 survey reported that approximately 8,000 people died of typhoid in the country, with nearly 6,000 of the fatalities occurring among children under 15. The disease is primarily transmitted through contaminated water and consumption of unhygienic food. Dr Mohammad Shahriar Sajjad, Deputy Director, EPI and Surveillance, presented the progress of the ongoing typhoid vaccination campaign and outlined measures to further strengthen its implementation.
Speakers at the meeting emphasised that the government has accorded highest priority to the immunization programme, noting that Bangladesh’s achievements in expanding vaccine coverage have earned global recognition. Under the “Typhoid Vaccination Campaign-2025”, the government is providing typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCV) free of cost to all children aged between nine months and under 15 years. The campaign, which began on October 12, will continue until November 13.
The target is to administer one dose of TCV to approximately 4.90 crore children nationwide, including students from playgroup/kindergarten to class IX or equivalent in madrasas, primary and secondary schools, as well as children of the same age group living outside educational institutions. Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant on Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman was present at the event as the chief guest.
With Health Services Division Secretary Md. Saidur Rahman in the chair, Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Professor Dr Md Abu Jafor, and Deputy Representative, UNICEF Bangladesh Dipika Sharma were present as special guests.
