UNICEF hails immunization progress in Bangladesh amid pandemic

New data shows that monthly immunization service uptake has surpassed pre-COVID-19 levels in Bangladesh despite the challenges faced by parents, communities and health services during the pandemic, reports UNB.
"This is a remarkable achievement by the Government of Bangladesh, and it will no doubt save the lives of thousands of children. UNICEF is committed to supporting immunization efforts to ensure that this momentum is sustained, and no child is left behind," said VeeraMendonca, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Bangladesh on Monday welcoming the new data.
UNICEF is the largest single vaccine buyer in the world, procuring more than 2 billion doses of vaccines annually for routine immunization and outbreak response on behalf of nearly 100 countries including Bangladesh.
The national immunization programme in Bangladesh provides vaccines against 10 diseases including tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis-B, haemophilusinfluenzae type-B, pneumococcus, poliomyelitis, measles and rubella.
As coronavirus began to spread earlier this year and Bangladesh effectively went into lockdown, health services were severely impacted. Despite initial challenges, UNICEF ensured the delivery of critical vaccine supplies as the government continued to roll out this core service.
"Many parents were afraid to leave their homes to vaccinate their children due to the lockdown restrictions, while others were unaware that immunization services were continuing. As a result, we experienced a major drop in vaccination uptake between March and May," said DrMdShamsulHaque, Line Director of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).