Bangladesh’s typhoid vaccine is safe, WHO-approved and certified halal by Saudi Arabia’s Halal Center, health officials and partners said at a meeting in Dhaka on Thursday (October 23).

Professor Dr Md Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) “meets international quality standards and has proven efficacy,” urging parents to ensure every eligible child is immunised.

He was speaking at the session was jointly organised by the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), UNICEF Bangladesh and the Health Protection Foundation at the SIRDAP Auditorium in Dhaka.

Health Services Division Secretary Md Sayedur Rahman chaired the event. 

Special guests included Director General of Health Services Professor Dr Md Abu Jafor; UNICEF Bangladesh Deputy Representative Deepika Sharma; and Dr Sudhir Joshi, team lead for immunization (IVD) at the World Health Organization. 

EPI & Surveillance Deputy Director Dr Mohammad Shahriar Sajjad presented progress and next steps for strengthening the campaign.

Officials reiterated that the nationwide “Typhoid Vaccination Campaign-2025” is providing a single TCV dose free of charge to all children aged nine months to under 15 years, through government vaccination centres, community clinics, school-based sessions and temporary urban and rural booths. 

The campaign began on October 12 and runs through November 13, with school rounds followed by sessions at EPI centres, according to partner briefings and local schedules. 

Speakers said Bangladesh is the seventh country to launch a TCV programme, following Liberia, Malawi, Nepal, Pakistan, Samoa and Zimbabwe. 

Presenters addressed questions circulating in some communities about safety, eligibility, side effects and co-administration with other vaccines. WHO’s position paper and safety reviews support TCV introduction for children in high-burden settings; the vaccine is prequalified by WHO and can be given alongside other routine immunisations. 

The meeting also highlighted halal certification. Saudi Arabia’s Halal Center—operated by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority—oversees halal certification systems and recognises accredited bodies that issue halal certificates; organisers said the vaccine is certified halal by this authority. 

Officials reported steady uptake since the October 12 launch and encouraged continued public participation to meet campaign targets. UNICEF and partners recently expanded cold-chain capacity nationwide ahead of the rollout. 

According to WHO, typhoid fever causes an estimated 9 million cases and about 110,000 deaths globally each year (2019 estimates). Children are at highest risk, particularly where safe water and sanitation are lacking. 

The disease is caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi, spread via contaminated food and water. Delayed treatment and antimicrobial resistance can lead to severe complications—risks the single-dose TCV aims to reduce by building long-lasting protection in children most affected. 

SMS/