Over 38 lakh children vaccinated in Typhoid campaign: DGHS Chief
NN ONLINE:
A total of 3,837,612 children have so far been vaccinated across the country in the ongoing nationwide typhoid vaccination campaign. The campaign which launched on October 12 will continue till November 13. Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Prof. Dr. Md. Abu Jafor, disclosed the information in an exclusive interview with Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) today.
He said typhoid is a preventable infectious disease, with children aged between 9 months and under 15 years being the most vulnerable. The disease typically spreads through contaminated water, poor sanitation and unsafe food, he added.
“Vaccination provides protection against typhoid for at least five years. It is also vital in preventing the rise of drug-resistant typhoid strains, which are becoming a global health threat,” he said. The DG informed that this campaign is a special initiative of the interim government’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, conducted under the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI).
Children from pre-primary to grade nine in schools are receiving vaccines at their educational institutions. Additionally, children aged between 9 months and under 15 years who are out of school can receive the vaccine at their nearest EPI centre free of cost. Out of the total vaccinated so far, 3,515,043 children were immunized through schools and colleges, and 322,569 through community clinics.
Referring to global data, Dr. Jafor said over 70 lakh people were affected by typhoid in 2021, with around 93,000 deaths—many of them in South Asia.
In Bangladesh, the disease claimed approximately 8,000 lives in the same year, of which 68 percent were children under 15. He further warned about the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant typhoid, as many traditional antibiotics are no longer effective. “This vaccine will not only reduce infection rates but also curb the misuse of antibiotics,” he added.
To ensure nationwide coverage, the campaign has been coordinated with the Ministries of Education, Religious Affairs, Social Welfare and Information and Broadcasting, along with other relevant agencies, NGOs and private institutions.
Special arrangements are in place to reach underserved groups, including street children, orphans, indigenous communities and children in slums and brothel areas. Dr. Jafor said EPI is one of the most successful and internationally recognized health programs in Bangladesh, vaccinating around 4.2 million children annually against deadly infectious diseases and preventing approximately 100,000 children deaths each year.
The typhoid vaccine used in the campaign is approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) which is safe and works very well. “It contains protein and polysaccharide components, offering stronger immune protection,” he added. He mentioned that mild side effects such as slight pain or redness at the injection site may occur but typically subside quickly. He urged parents and guardians to ensure their children receive the vaccine within the scheduled timeframe.