Govt launches cholera vaccine drive for 51 lakh

The government on Thursday launched a Preventive Oral Cholera Vaccination (POCV) campaign targeting more than 51 lakh people in high-risk areas of Dhaka and four districts to strengthen protection against the disease.

The government has launched a Preventive Oral Cholera Vaccination (POCV) campaign targeting over 51 lakh people across high and very-high cholera risk areas in Dhaka and the districts of Kishoreganj, Narayanganj, Munshiganj and Brahmanbaria.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain inaugurated the campaign at an auditorium of the Dhaka South City Corporation on Thursday morning.

The first dose will be administered from August 22 to September 21, while the second dose will be given from September 26 to October 25. Vaccination will continue from 8:00am to 5:00pm.

The campaign is open to everyone aged one year and above, except pregnant women. Officials said receiving both doses is mandatory to ensure adequate protection against cholera.

The drive covers 14 upazilas and thanas identified as high and very-high cholera risk zones.
In Dhaka South City Corporation, the campaign will cover Lalbagh, Gandaria, Kadamtali and Kamrangirchar thanas. In Dhaka North City Corporation, Tejgaon, Khilkhet and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar thanas are included.

Outside Dhaka, the campaign will cover Munshiganj Sadar, Narayanganj Sadar, Brahmanbaria Sadar and Nabinagar, as well as Karimganj, Hossainpur and Tarail upazilas in Kishoreganj.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is leading the campaign, while the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) is implementing it with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, WHO, IFRC, icddr,b and other development and implementing partners.

Addressing the launch, Sakhawat said vaccination programmes could achieve their greatest public health impact only when they reached as many eligible people as possible.

He urged guardians, teachers, community leaders, health workers, volunteers and the media to help provide accurate information and counter rumours about the campaign.

The minister also stressed that vaccination alone was not enough to prevent cholera. He called for continued efforts to ensure safe drinking water, proper food storage and preparation, handwashing, sanitation and personal hygiene.

Eligible citizens can register for the vaccine through vaxepi.gov.bd or by scanning a QR code and providing the required information. The registration system will also allow citizens to create National Health ID cards, which officials said would support access to digital health services in the future.

The government expressed gratitude to the development and implementing partners for supporting the campaign.