Routine immunisation to include Typhoid vaccine from 1 Aug

The government has decided to introduce the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) into the country's routine immunisation programme from 1 August with an aim to protect children from the bacteria-borne disease.

As part of the initiative, children aged exactly 15 months will receive a single dose through the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), according to an official directive issued by the EPI on Monday.

The directive, signed by EPI Assistant Director Hasanul Mahmud, said the vaccine will be incorporated into the national immunisation schedule following recommendations from the National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group (NITAG), Bangladesh and the Inter-Agency Coordination Committee (ICC), chaired by the secretary to the Health Services Division.

The decision was taken after reviewing the latest scientific evidence, the vaccine's effectiveness and its disease-prevention capacity, according to the directive.

The introduction of the vaccine would strengthen protection against typhoid among children and help develop a sustainable disease prevention system through regular vaccination, said the EPI.

The children will receive one dose of typhoid vaccine at all permanent and temporary EPI vaccination centres across the country. 

Bangladesh successfully conducted a nationwide Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) campaign last year.