Who will receive typhoid vaccines and how to register?
Doctors advised parents to ensure their children are well-fed before vaccination
Bangladesh launched its first-ever nationwide typhoid vaccination campaign today (12 October).
Children aged 9 months to under 15 years are eligible for the vaccine. Students from pre-primary to grade nine (or equivalent) will receive one dose at their respective schools or madrasas.
Children not enrolled in school can be vaccinated at EPI centres, while NGOs will assist in vaccinating street children in urban areas.
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Bangladesh launches first-ever nationwide typhoid vaccination drive to immunise 4.9 crore children
Even children without birth certificates are eligible for the month-long campaign, which will run until 13 November.
Doctors advised parents to ensure their children are well-fed before vaccination.
Children should remain at the vaccination centre for at least 30 minutes after receiving the vaccine.
According to doctors, minor side effects — such as redness, swelling, or mild pain at the injection site, slight fever, headache, fatigue, or muscle aches — may occur, similar to other vaccines. These effects are generally mild and resolve on their own.
How to register
Registration for the campaign began on 1 August, with 1.68 crore children already registered.
The registration process remains open at https://vaxepi.gov.bd/registration/tcv.
"The typhoid vaccine being used in Bangladesh is pre-qualified, safe, and WHO-tested," said Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Dr Md Sayedur Rahman at a press briefing last Thursday (9 October).
Citing a 2021 study, Sayedur said around 8,000 people in Bangladesh died of typhoid that year and 68% of them are children under 15.
He added that the vaccine, developed by the Serum Institute of India, has been supplied to Bangladesh through Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
