Nationwide cholera vaccination campaign begins today
Published: 22 August 2026, 3:41:54
Photo: Collected
A nationwide two-dose oral cholera vaccination campaign began on Saturday, aiming to protect more than 5.17 million people in 14 high-risk upazilas and police station areas across Bangladesh.
The first dose of the free oral cholera vaccine will be administered from 22 August to 21 September, while the second dose will be given between 26 September and 25 October. Health authorities have urged eligible people to take both doses within the scheduled period for full protection.
All citizens aged one year and above are eligible to receive the vaccine free of charge. Pregnant women, however, are excluded from the campaign.
Vaccination centres will remain open daily from 8:00am to 5:00pm.
5.17 million people targeted
The campaign aims to bring a total of 5.175 million people under vaccination.
In 17 wards under four police station areas of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC)—Lalbagh, Gandaria, Kadamtali and Kamrangirchar—around 1.17 million people will receive the vaccine through 192 centres.
The vaccination campaign will also cover selected areas under Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Khilkhet and Tejgaon in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), as well as designated areas in Munshiganj, Kishoreganj, Narayanganj and Brahmanbaria districts.
At the recent inauguration of the oral cholera vaccination campaign, the health minister said cholera had once devastated entire villages in Bangladesh.
Although the disease is now largely under control, recent outbreaks have highlighted the need to remain vigilant, the minister said, calling for cooperation from all concerned to ensure the campaign’s success, as with other national immunisation programmes.
The minister also praised the role of the DSCC in efforts to control dengue in recent months.
DSCC Administrator Bir Muktijoddha Md Abdus Salam said the city corporation had extensive experience of successfully running Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) activities in densely populated areas, including Old Dhaka.
He said the DSCC was committed to using that experience to successfully implement the cholera vaccination campaign across the 17 targeted wards.
Cholera is caused by infection with the Vibrio cholerae bacterium. The oral vaccine helps prevent the disease and may also reduce its severity if infection occurs.
Health authorities have also urged people to follow basic hygiene practices, including drinking safe water, keeping food covered and washing hands regularly, alongside taking the vaccine.
