5 Crore Children to Be Given Typhoid Vaccines From Tomorrow: DGHS

Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Professor Dr. Md. Abu Jafor, has announced that the month-long typhoid vaccination campaign will begin nationwide from tomorrow.

The vaccinations will be conducted in every school from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Speaking to BSS today, Dr. Jafor said the government is providing free typhoid vaccines to around five crore children aged between 9 months and 15 years.

The campaign will be inaugurated by Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum at the Salimullah Muslim Orphanage in Azimpur, Dhaka. At the same time, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Health, Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman, will attend the launch at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College. Health Secretary Md. Saidur Rahman will be present at Residential Model School and College, while Dr. Jafor will inaugurate the program at an English-medium school in Dhanmondi.

He emphasized that the government, through the Ministry of Health, is providing the vaccines free of cost nationwide for children aged 9 months to 15 years. Registration for the campaign has been ongoing for the past month, but children can still receive vaccines at centers directly without prior registration.

Dr. Jafor assured that the typhoid vaccine has no known side effects and is approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). “Students can safely take this vaccine,” he said, urging parents to ensure their children are vaccinated.

He explained that typhoid spreads primarily through contaminated water, food, and poor hygiene. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study, over 7 million people worldwide were infected with typhoid in 2021, causing approximately 93,000 deaths, a significant portion of which occurred in South Asia.

In Bangladesh, children under 15 are most affected by typhoid. A 2021 survey revealed that around 8,000 people died from typhoid, nearly 6,000 of whom were children under 15.

Dr. Jafor highlighted that drug-resistant typhoid is becoming a major global health concern, as many commonly used antibiotics are no longer effective, leading to a rise in resistant typhoid cases. He noted that vaccination will greatly reduce disease incidence and help curb the misuse of antibiotics.

The National Typhoid Vaccination Campaign-2025, starting tomorrow, is expected to significantly lower typhoid-related illness and deaths among children. Each of the five crore targeted children will receive a single, highly effective dose free of cost.

All students from pre-primary (play, nursery, kindergarten) to grade nine, including madrasa and English-medium institutions, will be vaccinated at their schools. Children aged 9 months to below 15 years who are not enrolled in schools will receive vaccines at community EPI centers.

The campaign is being coordinated with the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Social Welfare, Islamic Foundation, English-medium schools, Qawmi madrasas, Scouts, and Girl Guides to ensure smooth implementation.

Special arrangements have been made in collaboration with the Department of Social Services, NGO Affairs Bureau, and various NGOs to vaccinate underprivileged children, including those in Bede Palli, tea gardens, orphanages, juvenile development centers, street children, and children living in brothel areas.

Dr. Jafor reiterated that the typhoid vaccine is very safe. Committees have been established at district, upazila, and city corporation levels to address any possible adverse events following immunization (AEFI). Committee members have been trained, and AEFI kits and necessary medicines have been provided to ensure every child receives the vaccine safely.