The icddr,b under the supervision of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), will start administering the second dose of oral cholera vaccine from Wednesday.
The week-long campaign will continue till 10 August, except Friday, 5 August and Ashura Day on Tuesday, 9 August, from 8.00 am until 4.00 pm.
A total of 2.36 million residents of Jatrabari, Dakshin Khan, Sabujbagh, Mohammadpur and Mirpur of Dhaka city who received the first-dose of oral cholera vaccination will be given the second-dose during this vaccine drive, the research centre said in a statement.
Those who received the first-dose between 26 June and 2 July can receive the second-dose by presenting their vaccine card at their respective vaccine centres.
"We have received an overwhelming response from the residents of five areas of Dhaka and have been able to vaccinate a record number of residents in a very short time. We hope that those who have received the first dose of cholera vaccine must protect themselves against the disease by receiving the second dose as well,” said Director of Disease Control and Line Director Disease Control Program, DGHS, Professor Dr Mohammad Nazmul Islam.
Dr Firdausi Qadri, Senior Scientist and Acting Senior Director of Infectious Diseases Division at icddr,b said, "I urge everyone to get vaccinated with the oral cholera vaccine, and maintain disease preventive measures such as the use of safe water, safe sanitation and personal hygiene, to be protected from many infectious diseases including diarrhoea."
The two-dose Euvichol-Plus Cholera vaccine produced by EuBiologics Co. Ltd., South Korea, which is given at least 14 days apart, will be administered to those who are above one year of age.
This vaccine is prequalified by the World Health Organization, and can be given to all except pregnant women and those who have received any other vaccine within the last 14 days.
icddr,b is undertaking the largest cholera vaccination campaign with support from the Dhaka North and South City Corporation and under the supervision of the DGHS.
The campaign is also supported by the National Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), World Health Organization, UNICEF, International Red Cross and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, and MSF. It is being funded by The Vaccine Alliance, GAVI.
The vaccination drive is being implemented through 700 vaccination centres in Jatrabari, Dakshin Khan, Sabujbagh, Mohammadpur and Mirpur. Residents of these areas are being urged to take precautionary measures against COVID-19 while taking the cholera vaccine to prevent the disease and to assist in the vaccination campaign.
