Bangladesh has launched a national vaccination campaign against typhoid fever in response to the spread of an antibiotic-resistant strain of the disease in the South Asian region. The month-long campaign aims to vaccinate approximately 50 million children between the ages of nine months and 15 years with a single dose of the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV). This vaccine, approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), provides protection against typhoid for up to five years and will be administered free of charge, according to the Bangladeshi government.
Bangladesh has initiated this vaccination campaign at a time when concerns about the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains of typhoid fever across South Asia have been growing. Since 2016, Pakistan has been working to control the spread of typhoid strains that are resistant to almost all antibiotics except one. Health workers in Bangladesh are administering the vaccine to children in schools, clinics, and through door-to-door visits, with special attention given to densely populated poor areas and remote regions. The campaign will continue until November 13, after which TCV will be included in Bangladesh’s regular immunization schedule.
Typhoid fever, caused by the Salmonella Typhi bacteria, is a disease that spreads through contaminated food and water. Symptoms of this potentially life-threatening illness include fever, dizziness, abdominal pain, and the appearance of rose-colored spots on the chest.
