Typhoid vaccine to be added from August

The health authorities have included single-dose typhoid vaccine in the routine immunisation programme from August this year for children aged up to 15 months, said an official order on Monday.

"The Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) will be administered across the country from August first. We have issued directives to all Upazila level health offices to this effect. Although the Expanded Program on Immunisation (EPI) was scheduled earlier to be launched from January, it was delayed due to the measles outbreak," Hasanul Mahmud, Assistant Director of EPI, told the FE.

The authorities ran a trial immunisation campaign last year.

To provide long-term protection to children in the country from the risk of typhoid fever, the TCV is being included in the regular immunisation program from August first.

TCV will be given to children at all permanent and temporary vaccination centers in the country. TCV can be given simultaneously with the measles-rubella (MR-2) vaccine in the same vaccination session, according to the official order.

A digital tracking system has been strengthened to ensure a smooth vaccination programme. Field workers will go door-to-door to prepare a list of the children aged 15 months and ensure their registration through the 'VaxEPI' app.

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