A slight dip in Bangladesh’s national child immunisation coverage has sparked renewed commitment among public health leaders to close remaining gaps and ensure no child is left behind.

At a high-level discussion held on February 25 at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka, experts from the government, UNICEF, and the health sector came together to assess progress and chart the way forward. The event, titled “Strengthening Immunisation Programme to Achieve Universal Health Coverage in Bangladesh”, was jointly hosted by the Health Security Foundation and UNICEF Bangladesh.

Dr Nizam Uddin Ahmed, Chair of the Gavi Civil Society Organisations and Executive Director of the Health Security Foundation, presented key findings from the 2023 Coverage Evaluation Survey. “Bangladesh’s immunisation coverage now stands at 81.60%, a slight decrease from 83.90% in 2019,” he said. “We must address this with urgency, as vaccines like BCG, DPT, and Pentavalent are crucial to protecting our children’s futures.”

Despite the modest decline, Dr Ahmed applauded Bangladesh’s long-standing commitment to immunisation. Since the launch of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) in 1979, Bangladesh has made tremendous progress. Each year, millions of children are protected from preventable diseases like tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type b through routine vaccines.

Experts at the event stressed the need to identify and reach every zero-dose and under-immunised child. Dr Ahmed urged increased planning for urban populations, smarter vaccine delivery in remote areas, and partnerships with NGOs and the private sector to enhance community-level reach. He also called for embracing digital tools to improve tracking and reduce missed doses.

Speaking at the event, Additional Secretary ATM Saiful Islam reaffirmed the government’s dedication. “No child should be left behind. A healthy, vaccinated child is the foundation of a strong, developed Bangladesh,” he said.

UNICEF’s Health Manager, Dr Riyad Mahmud, highlighted the value of investment in immunisation. “For every dollar spent on vaccines, we get a return of $25.2. That’s nearly 5 million illnesses prevented each year through EPI,” he noted. He also emphasized eliminating the 12% of invalid doses—those given before a child reaches the recommended age. “Fixing this alone can boost our programme effectiveness to 90%.”

Dr Shah Ali Akbar Ashrafi from the DGHS stressed the importance of digital tracking systems to ensure that every child receives the right vaccine at the right time. With renewed momentum and unified efforts, Bangladesh is poised to continue its leadership in immunisation equity. The focus is clear: reach every child, in every corner, with life-saving vaccines.

Reference:
চার বছরে টিকাদান কমেছে ২ শতাংশের বেশি, ঝুঁকি বাড়ছে শিশুদের [Internet]. medivoicebd.com. 2025 [cited 2025 Apr 23]. Available from: https://medivoicebd.com/article/32080