The second dose of Oral Cholera Vaccination programme will begin in Chattogram for residents of wards 38 and 39 (Bandar Tila and South Halishahar) under Bandar thana of the Chattogram City Corporation. It will be available from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, from October 8 to October 12, 2023.
The second dose of the vaccine will be given at the same centres as the first dose. A total of 135,323 individuals who received the first dose are eligible for the second dose. Among these individuals, there were 15,057 males and 14,582 females under five years old, and 52,777 males and 52,807 females who were more than five years old. Euvichol-Plus Cholera vaccine, produced by EuBiologics Co. Ltd. South Korea, will be given to individuals over one year of age.
The campaign is being led by the Communicable Disease Control (CDC) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), with support from the World Health Organization, EPI, the Civil Surgeon Office of Chattogram, Chattogram City Corporation, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and icddr,b. Earlier, on 17 September 2023, the Honourable Mayor of Chattogram Freedom Fighter Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury inaugurated the oral cholera vaccination campaign.
“We are pleased that residents of Chattogram’s Bandar Tila and South Halishahar wards have received the first dose of oral cholera vaccine. Alongside vaccination, we strongly emphasise the importance of safe water and good hygiene practices to further safeguard against cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases," said Dr Firdausi Qadri, Acting Senior Director of the Infectious Diseases Division of icddr,b.
Professor Dr Mohammad Nazmul Islam, Director of Disease Control and Line Director of the CDC said, “I am truly happy to witness the widespread acceptance of the first cholera vaccine dose. I will urge those who received the first dose to take the second dose and complete the course. Hopefully they will be protected from cholera-related diarrhoea for next two years and more.”
Residents in the area are strongly encouraged to take the vaccine to safeguard both themselves and their families from the outbreak.
