Bangladesh to roll out free typhoid vaccine for children aged 15-24 months from Aug 1

The vaccine will be added to routine immunisation under the national EPI programme

The government will begin providing free typhoid vaccination to children under Bangladesh's routine immunisation programme from Aug 1.

Under the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), children aged between 15 and 24 months will receive a single dose of the typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV).

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) issued detailed implementation guidelines for the programme through the EPI on Monday.

According to the directive, the vaccine will be administered free of charge at all permanent and temporary EPI centres.

A single dose will be given in the outer middle part of the muscle of the child's left thigh.

The guideline says the typhoid vaccine can be administered during the same session as the second dose of the measles-rubella (MR-2) vaccine.

Field health workers have been instructed to ensure vaccination coverage for all eligible children in their respective wards.

To support digital tracking and improve birth registration, field workers will conduct household visits to identify eligible children and prepare microplans.

Parents will also be encouraged to register their children through the VaxEPI mobile application, complete registration and download vaccination cards.

After administering the vaccine, health workers will scan the vaccination card using the Smart Health BD, e-Tracker application to update each child's vaccination record.

The DGHS said registration through the app will be mandatory for receiving the typhoid vaccine.

It instructed Upazila authorities to simplify birth registration procedures and ensure all eligible children are registered. Manual EPI child cards, registration books and tally sheets will also be updated where necessary.

The programme will use five-dose liquid typhoid conjugate vaccine vials.

The vaccine must be stored and transported at temperatures between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius.

To minimise wastage, partially used vaccine vials may be used in the next vaccination session, according to the guideline.

The DGHS has also instructed local authorities to involve elected representatives, teachers, imams, religious leaders and community members in awareness campaigns.

House-to-house visits, public announcements and community courtyard meetings will also be strengthened to encourage participation in the programme.