Bangladesh: Half a million children miss out on full vaccination

Despite the noteworthy progress made by Bangladesh under the country’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), implemented in 1979, which led to a substantial increase in immunization coverage among fully vaccinated children from 2% to 81.6%, significant disparities persist between rural and urban regions, as emphasized by UNICEF, WHO, and the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) during the launch of World Immunization Week 2025. At present, it is estimated that 400,000 children are under-immunised, with 70,000 (1.5%) having not received any vaccines. The gap is wider in urban areas, with only 79% of the population fully vaccinated, compared to 85% in rural areas. A further 2.4% of people in urban areas have not been vaccinated, while 9.8% are under-immunised. The 70,000 children vaccinated at zero doses and the 400,000 under-immunized children, at risk of preventable infant mortality through full vaccination, face vulnerabilities such as poverty, lack of education, and poor access to healthcare. The obstacles to achieving full immunization are intricate and encompass a paucity of human resources, accessibility challenges in hard-to-reach areas such as urban slums, and the impending transition from Gavi support, which will necessitate the government to fully fund its national immunization program with domestic resources, including vaccine procurement, policy support, cold chain equipment, and vaccine rollout, all of which require urgent attention. Gavi, UNICEF, and WHO are committed to supporting the Government of Bangladesh in protecting all children from vaccine-preventable diseases.