97% typhoid vaccine coverage among children places Bangladesh among global leaders: Unicef

Unicef Representative in Bangladesh Rana Flowers has said Bangladesh has achieved over 97 percent coverage in the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) Campaign 2025, which places it among global leaders.

"I am filled with immense pride and gratitude as I share wonderful news - Bangladesh has achieved something extraordinary: over 97% coverage in the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) Campaign 2025, protecting more than 42.5 million children," she said in a recent statement.

She said this remarkable achievement is a testament to the commitment of the Government of Bangladesh to protect children from preventable death and suffering and their families from the cost burden and emotional pain that occurs when children become dangerously ill. 

Flowers said it places Bangladesh among global leaders — the eighth country in the world to introduce this life-saving campaign. 

"The successful rollout of the vaccine could not be more important for child health. The latest Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), carried out by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) in partnership with Unicef, shows that only 39.3% of people in Bangladesh have access to safely managed drinking water. 

"Even more alarming, nearly half of all water sources (47.2%) and more than eight in ten household water samples (84.9%) are contaminated with E. coli. These numbers mean that for millions of children, illnesses like typhoid are not distant threats, they are risks faced every single day, and a simple glass of water can carry real danger," she said.

For this reason, she said, Unicef urgently supported the Government of Bangladesh to undertake the campaign. 

"Until such time as every family can rely on clean, safe water, the TCV vaccine remains one of the strongest safeguards we can offer, protecting children from severe illness, protecting their futures, and giving parents peace of mind," the Unicef representative said.

"For the strong uptake of the vaccine, I thank the parents for prioritising their children's health and wellbeing. For the successful reach achieved, I congratulate the Government of Bangladesh and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and their incredible teamwork across the country.

Unicef is honored to have supported every step of the journey, from supplying 50.4 million doses of TCVs, to robust planning, strengthening cold chain systems with new cold rooms, and deploying digital tools like the VaxEPI platform that ensured vaccines reached the right children at the right time. We also helped build the capacity of frontline health workers with the training and guidance needed for such a massive nationwide rollout."

Communication and community engagement efforts also played a vital role, Flowers said, adding by working closely with the Islamic Foundation and sharing trusted child-friendly messages across TV, radio, and social media, Unicef reached more than 120 million people and helped families feel confident in vaccinating their children.

"What impresses me most is the commitment to reaching every child, everywhere. Children in marshy lands, coastal belts, and remote hilltops; children with disabilities; children from underprivileged families; children in nomadic, ethnic, and tea-garden communities; students in Qawmi Madrasas; and children of sex workers, all were included. And in the Rohingya camps, over 424,000 children were protected, reflecting Bangladesh's deep commitment to all children in Bangladesh," she said.