The government will launch a preventive oral cholera vaccination campaign on August 22, targeting around 51.75 lakh people in 14 high-risk upazilas and thanas across the country.
Bangladesh is shifting from responding to outbreaks to identifying high-risk areas and taking preventive measures in advance, said Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain at the inauguration the campaign on Thursday.
“Cholera is a preventable and treatable disease, but it can be fatal if severe dehydration is not treated in time,” the minister said.
He said oral cholera vaccination, alongside safe water, sanitation and hygiene, would play an important role in protecting public health.
Two doses in two phases
Under the first phase, people aged one year and above in 14 priority areas will receive two doses of the preventive oral cholera vaccine (pOCV).
The first round will run from August 22 to September 21, while the second will take place from September 26 to October 25, with at least 14 days between doses.
The priority areas are Lalbagh, Gandaria, Kadamtali and Kamrangirchar in Dhaka South City Corporation; Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Khilkhet and Tejgaon in Dhaka North City Corporation; Munshiganj Sadar; Karimganj, Hossainpur and Tarail in Kishoreganj; Narayanganj Sadar; and Brahmanbaria Sadar and Nabinagar.
The areas were selected based on disease risk, population density, previous infection patterns and scientific analysis, the minister said.
The campaign will eventually be expanded to 144 high-risk upazilas and thanas nationwide.
Recipients will receive e-health cards through the VaxEPI platform to record vaccination information and monitor coverage.
Bangladesh has received around 10.3 million doses following an improvement in global vaccine supply. Gavi, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, IFRC, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and icddr,b are supporting the programme.
Pregnant women excluded
WHO representative Dr Ahmed Jamshid Mohamed said pregnant women and people suffering from infectious diseases would be excluded from the campaign.
Everyone aged one year and above who meets the prescribed conditions will otherwise be eligible, he said.
He stressed that vaccination alone cannot prevent cholera and called for safe water, improved sanitation and safe food practices.
Call to counter misinformation
The health minister urged local government representatives, health workers, elected representatives and the media to ensure that no eligible person is left out.
He also called for responsible efforts to counter misinformation and rumors about the vaccine.
DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam said the city corporation would draw on its experience of implementing EPI programs in densely populated areas, including Old Dhaka, to conduct the campaign in its 17 wards.
icddr,b Emeritus Scientist Dr Ferdousi Qadri described the campaign as a timely, science-based initiative to control cholera.
She said the vaccine could significantly reduce the risk of cholera, while safe water, sanitation and hygiene remained equally important.
DGHS Director General Professor Dr Prabhat Chandra Biswas said the government was placing greater emphasis on disease prevention than treatment.
DGHS Director of Disease Control Dr Halimur Rashid said meeting the vaccination target and ensuring eligible people receive the vaccine on time would be crucial to the campaign's success.
He urged field-level health workers to remain vigilant and stressed the importance of safe water and sanitation in preventing cholera.
DSCC CEO Md Khaybar Rahman, UNICEF Bangladesh Deputy Representative Peter George L Mays, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Secretary General Md Habibur Rahman were also present at the time, among others.
