Oral cholera vaccination campaign begins

A preventive oral cholera vaccination campaign is set to begin across the country. People in 14 high-risk upazilas and police stations will receive the first dose from August 22 to September 21 and the second dose from September 26 to October 25.

Everyone aged one year and above will receive the vaccine free of charge from 8am to 5pm every day. Pregnant women, however, will be excluded from the campaign.

Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain inaugurated the campaign at the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) auditorium on Thursday morning. Representatives from the Ministry of Health, Directorate General of Health Services, World Health Organization, UNICEF, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, icddr,b and other relevant organisations attended the event.

Citing, the government has set a target of vaccinating 51.75 lakh people, the health minister said that the campaign will cover people living in 14 high-risk upazilas and police stations, requiring around one crore 3.5 lakh doses for the two rounds of vaccination.

The areas covered by the campaign are Lalbagh, Gandaria, Kadamtali and Kamrangirchar under Dhaka South City Corporation; Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Khilkhet and Tejgaon under Dhaka North City Corporation; Munshiganj Sadar; Karimganj, Hossainpur and Tarail in Kishoreganj; Narayanganj Sadar; and Sadar and Nabinagar in Brahmanbaria.

Minister Sakhawat Hossain said, “These areas were not selected based on assumptions. They have been prioritised through scientific analysis.”

He said cholera once used to devastate entire villages, and although the disease is now under control, recent outbreaks require continued vigilance.

He sought cooperation from all concerned to make the campaign a success, as with other national immunisation programmes.

At another vaccination programme, State minister of Health Dr MA Muhit said that the government is giving the highest priority to protecting public health through disease prevention rather than focusing on treatment after people fall sick.