Dhaka: Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Professor Dr. Md. Abu Jafor has announced the commencement of a month-long typhoid vaccination campaign, set to begin across the country from tomorrow.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the government will provide free typhoid vaccines to approximately five crore children aged between 9 months and 15 years. The vaccinations will be administered in schools from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. The campaign will be inaugurated by Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum at the Salimullah Muslim Orphanage in Azimpur, Dhaka. Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Health, Professor Dr. Md Sayedur Rahman, will attend the launch at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College.
In addition, Health Secretary Md Saidur Rahman will be present at the Residential Model School and College, and the DGHS Director General himself will inaugurate the vaccination programme at an English-medium school in Dhanmondi. Dr. Jafor emphasized that the Ministry of Health is facilitating this nationwide initiative without any charge for the recipients.
Children can receive the vaccines by either pre-registration or by directly visiting vaccination centers. Dr. Jafor assured that the typhoid vaccine, approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), has no known side effects. He urged parents to ensure their children get vaccinated, highlighting the importance of cooperation in this public health initiative.
He explained that typhoid is primarily spread through contaminated water and food, with poor hygiene being a significant contributor. The Global Burden of Disease Study indicated that over 7 million people globally contracted typhoid in 2021, leading to around 93,000 deaths, with South Asia being heavily impacted.
In Bangladesh, children under 15 are particularly susceptible, with a 2021 survey showing that about 8,000 people died from typhoid fever in the country, nearly 6,000 of whom were children under 15. Dr. Jafor noted the growing threat of drug-resistant typhoid, which renders many antibiotics ineffective, increasing the importance of vaccination to curb the disease and reduce antibiotic misuse.
The National Typhoid Vaccination Campaign-2025 aims to significantly reduce typhoid cases and fatalities among children. Each of the targeted five crore children will receive a single dose of the highly effective typhoid vaccine at no cost. The campaign encompasses students from pre-primary to grade nine in all educational institutions, with provisions for non-enrolled children to be vaccinated at community EPI centers.
The campaign is supported by multiple ministries and organizations, including the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, the Ministry of Education, and various NGOs, to ensure comprehensive outreach. Special arrangements are in place to vaccinate underprivileged children in Bede Palli, tea gardens, orphanages, and other vulnerable settings.
The DGHS has established committees at district, upazila, and city corporation levels to manage any adverse events following immunization (AEFI), with trained members and necessary medical supplies ready to ensure the safe administration of vaccines to all children.