Nationwide Typhoid Vaccination Campaign Begins Today

Bangladesh has launched a nationwide campaign under the government's Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) to administer a single dose of the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) to nearly 50 million children and adolescents aged 9 months to under 15 years.

The free typhoid vaccination program for children began simultaneously across the country on Sunday (October 12). The month-long campaign is set to run until November 13. The Ministry of Health states that the vaccine is over 95% effective in preventing typhoid.

According to EPI sources, the single-dose injectable typhoid vaccine will provide protection for three to seven years. The vaccine has been supplied to Bangladesh with the assistance of the Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Doctors emphasized that contracting typhoid increases the risk of financial loss, long-term physical complications, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, making vaccination the most effective preventive measure.

To receive the vaccine, parents must register their children using their 17-digit birth registration number on the website https://vaxepi.gov.bd/registration/tcv. After registration, the vaccine card can be downloaded directly online using the birth registration certificate.

However, children who do not have a birth registration can complete the registration with the help of health workers at the nearest vaccination center. It was also noted that while vaccination is possible without registration, it may lead to complications in obtaining the certificate.

According to the Ministry of Health, the target is to vaccinate 49 million children. So far, over 17 million children have registered. Officials stated that the vaccine is completely safe with no side effects and is currently in use in more than 21 countries worldwide.

They added that implementing a vaccination program of this scale is a challenging task, but it will be successfully achieved through public-private cooperation.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), typhoid fever is an infection caused by the Salmonella typhi bacteria, which spreads through contaminated water and food.

Symptoms include prolonged fever, headache, vomiting, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. Data from the 'Global Burden of Disease' indicates that in 2021, nearly 478,000 people were infected with typhoid in Bangladesh, with over 8,000 deaths. Approximately 70% of those infected are children.