By Hafizur Rahman
Cox’s Bazar, October 30, 2025 — A new Typhoid Conjugate Vaccination (TCV) Campaign will be launched across 33 Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar from November 2 to November 25, aiming to protect children from typhoid fever — a widespread and potentially life-threatening disease in Bangladesh.
Health workers will provide free vaccinations to children aged 9 months to under 15 years at selected health facilities within the camps. Pregnant women will not be included in this campaign.
Typhoid fever, caused by the Salmonella Typhi bacteria, spreads through contaminated food and water. The TCV is a proven preventive measure that significantly reduces the risk of infection and severe complications.
According to health officials, thousands of Rohingya children under 15 are affected by typhoid every year. The TCV is safe, effective, and approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). It has been successfully used in countries such as Pakistan and Nepal. The campaign is being implemented by the Health Sector Cox’s Bazar in collaboration with IOM, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, and UNHCR, ensuring that the vaccine meets international safety and quality standards.
Some children may experience mild side effects, including redness, swelling, or slight fever, but these symptoms typically subside quickly. The vaccine will be administered in a single dose — injected into the mid-thigh for children under 2 years old, and in the upper arm for those aged 2 and above.
Health experts emphasized that the TCV does not affect fertility and has no long-term side effects. It is safe for both boys and girls. Only children between 9 months and 15 years are eligible for vaccination, as this age group faces the highest risk of typhoid infection. Adults over 15 are not included in this phase of the campaign.
To ensure widespread awareness, community health workers, Sub-Majhis, Head-Majhis, mosque Imams, and local leaders will help spread information about the vaccination schedule and encourage parents to bring their children for immunization.
The campaign is part of the government’s continued efforts to strengthen child health and prevent infectious diseases in the refugee camps. Parents are encouraged to visit the nearest vaccination point between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. during the campaign period to protect their children from typhoid fever.
