Vaccination drive against Typhoid to be held on the 12th of October instead
The Bangladesh government has announced a nationwide typhoid vaccination campaign, marking the first time the typhoid vaccine will be administered nationwide in the country. The campaign, under the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), will commence on 12 October and last for 18 days [2].
Registration for the vaccine began on 1 August via the website https://vaxepi.gov.bd/registration/tcv. To register, recipients need a 17-digit birth certificate number [3]. After successful registration, recipients must download their vaccine card.
The typhoid vaccine, previously available only for purchase in the private sector, will now be provided free of charge by the government [1]. The vaccine to be used is Typhoid Conjugate Vaccines (TCV), which has been administered in many countries around the world [6].
TCV is preferred by WHO for routine programmatic use due to its improved immunological properties, suitability for use in younger children, and expected longer duration of protection [6]. The vaccine provides 3-7 years of protection against typhoid fever [4].
The WHO recommends that all typhoid fever vaccination programs should be implemented in the context of other efforts to control the disease, including health education, water quality and sanitation improvements, and training of health professionals in diagnosis and treatment [7].
While some parents may have concerns about possible side effects, the TCV vaccine used in nationwide campaigns is considered safe. Most side effects are mild and temporary, such as pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site, and sometimes mild fever [5]. Rarely, more severe reactions may occur, such as allergic responses, but these are very uncommon [1][2].
International health authorities, including the WHO, have prequalified these vaccines based on their safety profiles to be used in mass immunization campaigns [5]. Around 45 to 50 million children will receive the typhoid vaccine [4].
For the first 10 days, the vaccine will be administered through school and madrasah campaigns. After that, it will be available at EPI centres for the next eight days [2].
Dr Nizam Uddin Ahmed, a health official, has stated that the typhoid vaccine is 100% safe [3]. Despite the vaccine's safety, it is essential to monitor and manage any rare adverse reactions [5].
References: 1. GAVI 2. Bangladesh Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 3. Bangla Tribune 4. UNICEF 5. WHO 6. PATH 7. WHO
Science plays a significant role in the health-and-wellness sector, as demonstrated by the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccines (TCV) being administered nationwide in Bangladesh. These vaccines, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for routine programmatic use, offer protection against typhoid fever for 3-7 years. The vaccine's safety and efficacy have been supported by international health authorities, including GAVI and WHO, which have prequalified these vaccines for mass immunization campaigns.
