The government has rolled out first-ever nationwide typhoid vaccination campaign, targeting more than five crore children as part of a major public health push to eliminate deaths from the disease.

Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum inaugurated the month-long campaign at the Sir Salimullah Muslim Orphanage in Dhaka’s Azimpur area on Sunday, describing it as a crucial step toward ending preventable child deaths.

“It is a matter of shame that children still die of typhoid in our country,” she said. “Like diarrhea and night blindness, we will overcome this disease too, Insha Allah.”

The campaign, which runs until November 13, will provide a single dose of the typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) free of cost to children aged between nine months and 15 years. Even those without birth certificates will be eligible to receive the shot.

Adviser Nurjahan said the vaccination drive would strengthen Bangladesh’s public health system by reducing hospital pressure through prevention. “If we can reach every child through this campaign, typhoid-related deaths can be virtually eliminated,” she noted, adding that awareness and immunization are key to controlling the disease.

Sharmin S Murshid, Adviser to the Ministry of Social Welfare and Women and Child Affairs, attended the launch as a special guest and praised the initiative as a major breakthrough for child health. “This is not merely a health project but a milestone in protecting the next generation,” she said. “Typhoid has long been a silent threat, especially for children from poor families. This campaign will change that reality.”

According to the Ministry of Health, school-based immunization will continue until October 30, covering students from pre-primary to class nine or equivalent levels. Afterward, vaccination teams will visit homes to reach children outside schools, while NGOs will focus on immunizing street children in urban centers.

Officials said more than 16.8 million children have already registered for vaccination, and enrollment is ongoing.

The initiative marks a landmark moment in Bangladesh’s fight against typhoid, underscoring the government’s commitment to expanding immunization coverage and safeguarding the nation’s future generations.