Vaccination is one of the most cost-effective and powerful health interventions available to protect children from preventable, life-threatening infectious diseases. In Bangladesh, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) operated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has achieved remarkable success in protecting children across all divisions from birth through infancy.
1. The Official Bangladesh EPI Vaccination Schedule
The government EPI schedule provides free vaccines at community clinics, upazila health complexes, district hospitals, and urban immunization centers across Bangladesh.
| Child’s Age | Vaccine Administered | Protects Against |
|---|---|---|
| At Birth (0–14 days) | BCG + OPV-0 | Tuberculosis (TB) & Polio |
| 6 Weeks (1.5 Months) | Pentavalent-1 + PCV-1 + OPV-1 | Diphtheria, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Hib (Meningitis/Pneumonia), Pneumococcal Disease, Polio |
| 10 Weeks (2.5 Months) | Pentavalent-2 + PCV-2 + OPV-2 | Second dose of protective immunity |
| 14 Weeks (3.5 Months) | Pentavalent-3 + PCV-3 + OPV-3 + fIPV-1 | Third dose + Injectable Inactivated Polio Vaccine |
| 9 Months | MR-1 (Measles & Rubella) + fIPV-2 | Measles, Rubella & Fractional IPV |
| 15 Months | MR-2 (Measles & Rubella Booster) | Long-term booster protection against Measles & Rubella |
2. Additional Optional Vaccines Recommended by Pediatricians
In addition to the standard EPI schedule, pediatric specialists often recommend complementary vaccines available in private clinics and hospitals:
- Rotavirus Vaccine (6 & 10 Weeks): Prevents severe dehydrating diarrheal illness in infants.
- Chickenpox (Varicella) Vaccine (12+ Months): Prevents chickenpox and related skin complications.
- Hepatitis A Vaccine (12+ Months): Protects against food-and-water-borne viral hepatitis.
- Influenza (Flu) Vaccine (6+ Months): Annual booster recommended before winter season to reduce viral respiratory infections.
- Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV – 6+ Months): Protects against enteric typhoid fever, common in developing urban areas.
3. Managing Common Post-Vaccination Reactions
Mild side effects such as low-grade fever, irritability, or mild redness and tenderness at the injection site are normal signs that the child’s immune system is building protection.
- Fever Management: Administer age-appropriate Paracetamol syrup only as prescribed by your pediatrician.
- Local Soreness: Apply a cool, damp cloth to the injection area. Never massage or apply hot compresses to the injection site.
- Hydration: Continue exclusive breastfeeding for infants under 6 months, or offer plenty of fluids for older children.
4. General Pediatric Health Warning Signs
Consult a qualified Pediatrician (শিশুরোগ বিশেষজ্ঞ) immediately if an infant or child exhibits any of the following “danger signs”:
- Inability to breastfeed, drink fluids, or frequent persistent vomiting.
- Unusually fast breathing, chest indrawing, or grunting sounds while breathing.
- Lethargy, extreme drowsiness, or unresponsiveness.
- High fever with convulsions (febrile seizure) or stiff neck.
