Cholera vaccines: Drive for second dose starts tomorrow

The second round of the oral vaccination campaign against Cholera will begin tomorrow in five selected areas in Dhaka, said a press release.

During the first round -- held between June 26 and July 2 -- around 2.36 million people aged above one year and living in Jatrabari, Dakshin Khan, Sabujbagh, Mohammadpur and Mirpur areas received the first dose of the vaccines.

They will receive their second dose during the seven-day long second round of the campaign ending on August 10, in 700 vaccination centres in the five areas.

For this, they have to carry the vaccination card given during the first round to the same vaccination centres which will open from 8:00am to 4:00pm every day.

Under the supervision of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease and Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) has been conducting the campaign.

"Those who have received the first dose must protect themselves against Cholera by receiving the second dose," said Prof Mohammad Nazmul Islam, the director of Disease Control at DGHS.

"I urge everyone to get vaccinated with the oral cholera vaccine, ensure safe water and sanitation and personal hygiene," said Dr Firdausi Qadri, senior scientist and acting senior director at icddr,b.

In April, a record number of diarrhoea patients were admitted to the icddr,b hospital.

In 2020, DGHS vaccinated 12 lakh people in Dhaka's six areas with  the first dose of cholera vaccines.

The second round came to a halt due  to the Covid-19 pandemic.