For the first time in the country’s history, Bangladesh has launched a nationwide typhoid vaccination campaign aimed at protecting nearly 50 million children aged nine months to under 15 years from the disease.
The campaign was officially inaugurated on Sunday morning at the Sir Salimullah Muslim Orphanage Center in Azimpur, Dhaka, by Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum.
The program will provide free injectable typhoid vaccines to eligible children across the country over the next month.
Speaking at the event, Adviser Nurjahan Begum said, “It is shameful that children in our country still die from typhoid. Just as we have successfully prevented diseases like diarrhea and night blindness, we will also succeed in eliminating typhoid, Insha’Allah.”
She emphasized that disease prevention is now the government’s top health priority: “The more people—especially children—we can bring under preventive vaccination, the less pressure our hospitals will face. Typhoid is a disease that can be fully controlled through awareness and immunization. If we can reach every child through this campaign, typhoid-related deaths can effectively be eliminated, strengthening our public health system.”
Sharmin S. Murshid, Adviser to the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, attended the event as a special guest. She described the campaign as a significant milestone for Bangladesh, saying, “This is not just a health project—it’s a turning point for child health protection in the country. Typhoid has long been a silent threat, especially for children in low-income families. This initiative will bring major change to that vulnerable area. I hope every parent will participate actively and ensure their children receive the vaccine.”
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), every child—even those without birth certificates—will be eligible to receive the vaccine, ensuring that no one is left out.
This is Bangladesh’s first national typhoid vaccination drive, using a vaccine developed by the Serum Institute of India and supplied with support from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi).
