16% of Bangladeshi children still missing out on vaccination, experts warn

Despite decades of progress in immunisation, 16% of children in Bangladesh remain unvaccinated, raising serious concerns among public health experts about the risks in the country's healthcare system.

While the country's Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) coverage has improved dramatically over the decades – from less than 2% in 1985 to 83.9% today – it has stagnated below 84% over the past 12 years. The remaining 16% of children are being left out of life-saving vaccinations.

At a national-level meeting held in CIRDAP Conference Centre in Dhaka Tuesday, organised by UNICEF Bangladesh and the Shastho Shurokkha Foundation, speakers emphasised that these unvaccinated children pose a significant vulnerability to public health. 

The event, titled "National Level Meeting on Strengthening Immunisation and Health System in Bangladesh", brought together key stakeholders from government and civil society.

Dr Nizam Uddin Ahmed, Chair of the GAVI CSO Steering Committee, presented findings from the EPI Coverage Evaluation Survey 2019, which showed the worrying percentage of children being left out.

"This gap is not just a small percentage – it translates to hundreds of thousands of children," said Dr Sayedur Rahman, special assistant at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 

He said from 12% to 16% children remain out of vaccination coverage in different areas of the country.

"In a population of four million, 12%-16% unvaccinated means nearly half a million children are at risk. If we fail to reach these children in each cycle, we are leaving generations vulnerable to preventable diseases."

The disparity is especially stark between urban and rural areas, where access and awareness continue to be major challenges. Dr Rahman warned that even a single child excluded from immunisation contributes to a systemic risk in national healthcare.

"Each child left out of the vaccination programme lives with long-term health vulnerabilities," he said. "Vaccination reduces the need for antibiotics, increases life expectancy, and lowers the overall burden on the health system. If we can bring these 16% under coverage, we will see a ripple effect of benefits across the country."

The urgency is compounded by Bangladesh's gradual transition from external support. GAVI, the international vaccine alliance, is scheduled to phase out its assistance by 2029. Dr Ahmed noted that the government must begin preparing for full domestic financing of the immunisation programme.

Dr Rahman assured that the government is taking steps to secure vaccine supply in advance. UNICEF currently helps procure vaccines on behalf of the government from the global market, and advance payments have already been arranged from state funds to avoid disruptions.

"There were brief supply issues in recent weeks," he acknowledged, "but any shortages are being resolved within two to three weeks. Vaccines are moving from district to upazila levels according to monthly distribution cycles."

Speaking at the event, Director General of Health Services Professor Dr Md Abu Jafar called for universal birth registration, noting that timely vaccination depends on knowing where and when a child is born.