Health Minister Sardar Md Shakhawat Hossain Launches Nationwide Preventive Oral Cholera Vaccination Campaign for 2026

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain announced the launch of the “Preventive Oral Cholera Vaccination Campaign-2026” on Thursday, aimed at curbing the spread of the disease through a nationwide initiative. Speaking at the Nagar Bhaban auditorium of the Dhaka South City Corporation, the minister noted that while the country is witnessing a resurgence of infections such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, a unified effort between medical professionals and the administration has largely succeeded in mitigating the health crisis.

The vaccination campaign is scheduled to begin this Saturday, with the first dose administered in designated areas, followed by the second dose on September 26. The government aims to vaccinate approximately 5.17 million people, requiring 10.35 million doses. The program will be conducted across 14 identified locations, including Dhaka, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Kishoreganj, and Brahmanbaria.

Professor Halimur Rashid, Director of the Disease Control Branch at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), detailed the rollout, noting that the campaign is supported by Gavi, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, IFRC, and icddr,b. Officials specified that pregnant women and individuals with severe allergies to vaccine components should not receive the inoculation. The government has set a target to reduce cholera-related morbidity and mortality by 90 percent by 2030.

Minister Hossain emphasized that many life-threatening illnesses stem from a lack of public awareness and poor hygiene. He urged citizens to adopt healthy eating habits and maintain personal hygiene practices—such as handwashing and mask-wearing—modeled after the protocols established during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent future outbreaks.

Director General of the DGHS, Professor Provat Chandra Biswash, confirmed that all individuals over the age of one are eligible for the vaccine. He reiterated that the government is focusing on strengthening primary healthcare at the grassroots level to ensure sustainable disease prevention.

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Dr. Firdausi Qadri, a senior scientist at icddr,b, described the campaign as a historic achievement for Bangladesh. She noted that this five-year program is part of a global initiative to eliminate cholera, marking the first time the vaccine is being administered systematically as a preventive measure rather than solely in response to outbreaks.

During the event, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam underscored the importance of public compliance, particularly regarding sanitation and vector control. Addressing ongoing concerns about dengue, he warned that legal action and fines via mobile courts will be strictly enforced against building owners where mosquito larvae are found. He further stated that street food vendors will face regulation to ensure health standards, and called upon citizens to participate in green initiatives to maintain a cleaner urban environment.

The event also featured addresses from WHO representative Ahmed Jamshid Mohamed, UNICEF Deputy Representative Peter George El Mais, and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society Secretary General Md. Habibur Rahman Khan.