Desk Report:
The typhoid vaccination program is starting across the country from October 12. Children between the ages of 9 months and 15 years will be vaccinated. So far, 89.27 million children have registered on the government web portal.
This information was given by the Director General of the Directorate General of Health, Professor Dr. Abu Zafar, at a press conference held at the meeting room of the Directorate General of Health Services in Mohakhali, Dhaka on Sunday afternoon.
He said, “This is the first time that children will be given typhoid vaccine free of charge by the government. For registration, you will have to visit (https://vaxepi.gov.bd/registration/tcv) and provide your 17-digit birth registration number. Children without birth registration can register at the designated vaccination center. After registration, you will have to go to the designated center with the digital vaccination card received and get vaccinated. Children who have completed 9 months but have not completed 15 years; Only they are eligible for this vaccine.’
Health Department officials said that more than 8.9 million children registered in the one and a half months from August 1 to September 14. This vaccine is effective in preventing common typhoid as well as the spread of antibiotic-resistant typhoid. The vaccine, approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), is safe and effective.
According to WHO data from 2019, about 9 million people are infected with typhoid every year in the world and more than 110,000 people die. Most of the infected people are in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
According to The Global Burden of Disease, about 478,000 people in Bangladesh were infected with typhoid in 2021 and about 8,000 people died. 68 percent of the dead were children.
Experts say that typhoid germs are spread through contaminated water and food. The risk is higher in densely populated areas and where there is a lack of safe water and sanitation. If infected, various complications arise, including medical expenses, loss of productivity. In addition, bacteria are developing resistance to many antibiotics. In this situation, vaccination is the safest solution.
The government hopes that if the vaccination program is successfully implemented, typhoid-related deaths will be significantly reduced and there will be a major breakthrough in child health protection.
According to the Expanded Program for Immunization (EPI), the first 10 days of this campaign, which started on October 12, will be held in schools and madrasas across the country through camps and the next 8 days at EPI centers. The number of such children aged 9 months to 15 years in the country is 50 million.
Also present at the press conference were Additional Director General (Administration) of the Directorate General of Health Services Dr. Rezwanur Rahman, Additional Director General (Planning and Development) Dr. Sheikh Saidul Haque, Director (Administration) Dr. ABM Abu Hanif, Director (Hospital) Dr. Abu Hossain Md. Moinul Ahsan, among others.
