Bangladesh achieves 97 per cent typhoid vaccine coverage for children

Bangladesh has successfully vaccinated over 42.5 million children in the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) Campaign 2025, achieving more than 97% coverage nationwide, UNICEF notified on Thursday.

Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh, called the achievement a national breakthrough and said it makes Bangladesh the eighth country in the world to launch this life-saving campaign.

“This remarkable success shows the government’s strong commitment to protecting children from preventable illness and families from emotional and financial burdens,” she said.

The campaign is crucial as a recent Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics survey found only 39.3% of people have access to safely managed drinking water.

Nearly half of water sources and over 80% of household water samples are contaminated with E. coli, putting millions of children at daily risk of typhoid.

UNICEF supported the government with planning, vaccine supply, cold chain strengthening, digital tools, and training of frontline health workers.

The agency also worked on community engagement through TV, radio, social media, and partnerships with organizations like the Islamic Foundation, reaching over 120 million people.

Flowers highlighted that the campaign reached all children, including those in remote areas, children with disabilities, underprivileged communities, ethnic minorities, and over 424,000 children in Rohingya camps.

She thanked the government, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Expanded Programme on Immunization, Gavi, WHO, other partners, parents, and the media for their support in making the campaign a success.

“Vaccinating children is a promise of health, protection, and hope. This campaign brings Bangladesh closer to a typhoid-free future for every child,” she added.