Pediatricians have urged the government and health stakeholders to bolster immunization programs and raise public awareness to better protect children from a growing range of infectious diseases.
The call came during a three-day conference titled “Expanding Protection Against Childhood Infectious Diseases Through Vaccination,” held from Friday to Sunday in Dhaka and Chittagong, organized by Synovia Pharma PLC.
The event gathered over 200 pediatric experts who stressed the importance of timely and comprehensive vaccination coverage.
In both cities, local and international health experts emphasized that while the government’s current Expanded Programmme on Immunization (EPI) has contributed significantly to disease prevention, several critical vaccines—such as those for pneumonia, meningitis, typhoid, hepatitis A, and seasonal influenza—remain outside its scope.
Renowned Filipino expert Prof Dr Anna Lisa T Ong-Lim, head of Pediatric Infectious and Tropical Diseases at the University of the Philippines Manila, delivered the keynote address, offering insights into global immunization trends and strategies that have successfully reduced child mortality in other countries.
The panel discussion in Dhaka featured distinguished Bangladeshi pediatricians, including Prof Dr M Istiaque Hossain, Prof Dr ARM Luthful Kabir, and Prof Dr Md Abid Hossain Mollah.
The Chittagong panel featured experts, including Prof Dr Syed Mesbahul Hoque, Prof Dr Wazir Ahmed, Prof Dr Chiranjib Barua, and Prof Dr Pranab Kanti Mallick.
They made a point to incorporate vaccines for diseases currently not included in the government-provided EPI, such as pneumonia, meningitis, typhoid, hepatitis A, and seasonal influenza.
Speakers also warned that inadequate immunization leaves the door open for outbreaks and strains on the already stretched pediatric healthcare system in Bangladesh.
More than 200 pediatricians from Bangladesh participated in both conferences, sharing knowledge and strategies to bolster child health nationwide.
Synovia Pharma PLC, the event’s organizer, noted its ongoing commitment to child health and vaccine accessibility.
Formerly known as Sanofi Bangladesh, Synovia rebranded in April 2022 and continues to operate a major pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Tongi, Gazipur.
The conference ended with a consensus among attendees: strengthening immunization efforts—and ensuring that parents understand their importance—is not just a medical priority but a national imperative.
