Typhoid Vaccine: 90 lakh children registered so far

Around 90 lakh children have so far been registered as the government prepares to launch its first-ever typhoid vaccination campaign on October 12.

The health authorities have set a target of bringing 4.9 crore children aged between nine months and 15 years under the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI).

Online registration for the vaccine began on August 1. To register, one must visit https://vaxepi.gov.bd and provide the 17-digit birth registration number. The registration for vaccination is currently ongoing.

The guardians need to have their children registered for the vaccine.

After registration, a digital vaccination card will be issued, which has to be presented at the designated centre to receive the vaccine.

Children without a birth registration certificate can be registered directly at vaccination centres.

According to officials, the campaign will be conducted in all educational institutions during the first 10 working days from October 12, followed by the next eight working days at both temporary and permanent vaccination centres.

Officials of the Directorate General of Health Services yesterday shared the information at a press conference at its headquarters in Dhaka.

DGHS Director General Prof Md Abu Jafor said the rate of typhoid infection in Bangladesh is higher than in many other countries.

Citing the Global Burden of Disease survey 2021, he said around 4.78 lakh people are infected with typhoid annually in Bangladesh, and about 8,000 of them die. Of the deaths, 68 percent are children, he added.

Amid this situation, the government has decided to launch the first-ever typhoid vaccination programme to protect children from the disease, he said.

The vaccine -- Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) -- is prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is more effective than the vaccines currently available in the market, Prof Jafor said, adding that it will protect for five years.

He said the target is to bring 4.9 crore children under the campaign, while the authorities have a stock of around 5.5 crore doses. So far, 89.27 lakh children have been registered.

Responding to another question, SM Abdullah Al Murad, line director (MNCH) of DGHS, said children without a birth registration certificate can be registered directly at vaccination centres to receive the shot.