Bangladesh is preparing for a historic milestone in its public health journey, the country’s first-ever nationwide typhoid vaccination campaign. Scheduled to begin on October 12, the campaign will target 4.9 crore (49 million) children aged between nine months and 15 years under the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI).

Health officials announced that as of now, over 90 lakh (9 million) children have already been registered through the government’s VaxEPI portal (https://vaxepi.gov.bd) since online registration opened on August 1. Parents can register their children using the 17-digit Birth Registration Number (BRN), while children without a birth certificate will be registered directly at vaccination centres. After registration, each child receives a digital vaccination card, which must be presented at the designated vaccination centre to receive the shot.

The vaccination drive will start simultaneously in all educational institutions across Bangladesh, covering students during the first 10 working days of the campaign. The next eight days will focus on reaching children through temporary and permanent vaccination centres, ensuring that no child is left behind.

Speaking at a press conference at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) headquarters in Dhaka, DGHS Director General Prof. Md Abu Jafor said that Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of typhoid infection in the world. Citing data from the Global Burden of Disease Survey 2021, he explained that an estimated 4.78 lakh people are infected with typhoid annually in Bangladesh, and around 8,000 people die from it each year, 68% of whom are children.

“In light of this, the government has decided to launch the first-ever typhoid vaccination programme to protect our children,” said Prof. Jafor. “This vaccine will prevent severe illness and strengthen our national immunisation coverage.”

The Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV), which will be used in the campaign, is prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO) and offers up to five years of protection. Officials assured that Bangladesh has a sufficient supply, with 5.5 crore doses already available for the campaign.

SM Abdullah Al Murad, Line Director (MNCH) of DGHS, added, “Even children without a birth registration certificate can receive the vaccine. They will be registered directly at vaccination centres. No child will be left unprotected.”

This campaign marks another major stride in Bangladesh’s EPI success story, which already provides essential vaccines such as BCG, Pentavalent, OPV, PCV, and MR. The introduction of TCV reflects the government’s continued dedication to preventing childhood diseases and achieving zero-dose (ZD) and under-immunised (UI) reduction goals.

Health experts and development partners have praised Bangladesh for its leadership in expanding vaccine coverage and integrating digital tools like VaxEPI for registration, tracking, and monitoring. The move not only ensures transparency and efficiency but also symbolises Bangladesh’s commitment to health equity — ensuring every child, in every corner of the country, receives protection from preventable diseases.

As Bangladesh readies for the October launch, the message from health authorities is clear and inspiring: “Every child deserves protection, and this campaign will help make that a reality.” 

References: 

Disease control. Typhoid Vaccine: 90 lakh children registered so far [Internet]. The Daily Star. 2025 [cited 2025 Oct 19]. Available from: https://www.thedailystar.net/health/disease/disease-control/news/typhoid-vaccine-90-lakh-children-registered-so-far-3985666