Typhoid vaccination underway across the country; 50 million children will receive it

File Photo

News Desk: Under the government’s Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), a nationwide campaign has begun to provide 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 campaign for children started simultaneously on Sunday, October 12, and will continue for a month until November 13. According to the Ministry of Health, the vaccine is over 95% effective in preventing typhoid.

According to EPI sources, a single dose of the injectable typhoid vaccine provides protection for 3 to 7 years. The vaccine has been supplied in Bangladesh with the support of the Gavi Vaccine Alliance.

Doctors have emphasized that contracting typhoid can lead to financial loss, long-term health complications, and an increased risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Therefore, vaccination is 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, a vaccine card can be directly downloaded online using the birth registration certificate.

Children without a birth registration can complete registration with the help of health workers at the nearest vaccination center. Vaccination is possible even without registration, though obtaining the certificate may be more complicated.

According to the Ministry of Health, the target is to vaccinate 49 million children, and over 17 million children have registered so far. Officials confirmed that the vaccine is completely safe and has no side effects. Currently, it is being used in more than 21 countries worldwide.

Officials also noted that implementing such a large-scale vaccination program is challenging, but it can be successfully carried out with government and non-government cooperation.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), typhoid fever is an infection caused by Salmonella Typhi bacteria, spread through contaminated water and food. Symptoms include prolonged fever, headache, vomiting, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. According to the Global Burden of Disease data, in 2021, approximately 478,000 people in Bangladesh were affected by typhoid, with over 8,000 deaths. About 70% of those affected were children.