In today’s connected world, a simple mobile phone message is helping save lives. Across many Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), where reaching every child with lifesaving vaccines like BCG, DPT, and Pentavalent has long been a challenge, mobile health interventions—or mHealth—are proving to be a game-changer.

A recent scoping review published in Frontiers in Public Health analysed 31 studies from countries like Nigeria, Kenya, Bangladesh, and the Philippines. It found that SMS and voice call reminders to parents and caregivers significantly boosted vaccination coverage among children under five years. This is a major step forward, especially in countries like Bangladesh, where equitable immunisation is key to reducing Zero Dose (ZD) and Under-Immunised (UI) children.

In Bangladesh, an encouraging study showed that mobile interventions improved vaccine coverage in rural, hard-to-reach, and street-dweller communities—a testament to how digital tools can close access gaps in both urban slums and remote villages​

Most studies in the review used text-message reminders to notify mothers about upcoming vaccine schedules. These small nudges proved powerful. In Zimbabwe, sending SMS reminders at 6, 10, and 14 weeks boosted timely receipt of vaccines like polio and Pentavalent—significantly outperforming standard health education alone.

Kenya and Nigeria also saw success when combining text messages with phone calls or even small incentives. The strategy worked well regardless of location—urban or rural, low-income or middle-income. One Nigerian study with 3,440 mothers reported that SMS reminders increased awareness of immunisation dates and helped ensure on-time vaccine completion. Similarly, in Ethiopia, over 3,200 mothers benefitted from mHealth services that streamlined the entire immunisation journey.

What makes these findings exciting is their adaptability. mHealth doesn’t need fancy apps or smartphones—it works with simple text messages. That means it’s not only effective but also affordable and scalable in countries like Bangladesh. Mobile phones—already widely available—are quietly helping overcome barriers like forgetfulness, distance, or lack of information. These digital reminders are keeping more children on schedule for life-saving vaccines, bringing nations closer to global health goals. 

In regard to using mobile health interventions, Bangladesh is also not lagging behind. Back in 2019, the Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI) launched “EPI Vaccination Center,” a mobile application that can provide EPI vaccination centers’ location and their detailed information. It also helps the user to find out the nearest center from the current location. The app supports English and Bengali languages, making it both accessible and easy to use. 

The Country Learning Hub stands inspired. As Bangladesh works toward immunisation equity, especially for its most vulnerable populations, embracing mobile health interventions can bridge the final mile. Because every message matters. Every child counts. 

Reference:
Onigbogi O, Ojo OY, Kinnunen U-M, Saranto K. Mobile health interventions on vaccination coverage among children under 5 years of age in Low and Middle-Income countries; a scoping review. Front Public Health [Internet]. 2025;13:1392709. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1392709