Bangladesh rolls out oral cholera vaccines for nearly 5.2mn people

Bangladesh has launched a preventive oral cholera vaccination campaign targeting nearly 5.2 million people in areas considered at high risk of the disease.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain inaugurated the campaign at the Dhaka South City Corporation auditorium on Thursday.

Everyone aged 1 year and above, except pregnant women, will be eligible to receive the vaccine free of charge between 8am and 5pm.

“In the past, cholera used to wipe out entire villages. Although it is now under control, the recent outbreak means we must remain vigilant,” Sakhawat said.

He urged officials and the public to help make the campaign a success.

The minister said the initiative marked a shift towards taking preventive action before outbreaks worsen.

“Cholera is a preventable and treatable disease. But without timely treatment, it can quickly become fatal because of severe diarrhoea and dehydration,” he said.

Sakhawat said vaccination would complement safe water, improved sanitation, hygienic practices and disease surveillance in controlling cholera.

The government plans to eventually expand preventive vaccination to 144 high-risk Upazilas and police station areas, he added.

For the current campaign, around 5.175 million people in 14 priority areas are expected to be covered.

Around 10.35 million doses will be needed for two rounds of vaccination.

The priority areas include Lalbagh, Gandaria, Kadamtali and Kamrangirchar under Dhaka South City Corporation; Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Khilkhet and Tejgaon under Dhaka North City Corporation; Munshiganj Sadar; Karimganj, Hossainpur and Tarail in Kishoreganj; Narayanganj Sadar; and Brahmanbaria Sadar and Nabinagar in Brahmanbaria.

Sakhawat said the areas had been selected through scientific analysis rather than assumption.

DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam said the city corporation was committed to implementing the campaign successfully in 17 wards, drawing on its experience of running vaccination programmes in densely populated areas, including Old Dhaka.

Director General of Health Services Prof Pravath Chandra Biswas chaired the event.

Officials from the Health Services Division, Directorate General of Health Services, UNICEF, the World Health Organization, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, icddr,b and other agencies also attended.