Bangladesh observes 21st national

immunization day
Dhaka, 21 December, Abnews : The 21st National Immunisation Day (NID) is being observed
across the country today with the objective of maintaining countrys polio free status. Health and
Family Welfare Secretary MM Niazuddin inaugurated the Day at Dhaka Shishu Hospital this
morning. About 22.2 million children aged 0-59 months will be immunized by providing two
drops of oral polio vaccine (OPV) across the country. Sixty thousand health and family welfare
workers along with 6 lakh volunteers would be engaged in 1.30 lakh vaccination sites for
providing the vaccination to the targeted children, said the health secretary.

Targeted children who received OPV in previous NIDs or in routine Expanded Programme on
Immunization (EPI) or who have never been vaccinated with OPV will receive two drops of
OPV on this day of NID, he added. Parents are requested to bring their under 5 years children for
vaccination at the EPI sites from 8 am to 4pm. In addition to regular vaccination sites, travelling
children will be provided OPV vaccine through additional sites established at railway stations,
launch terminals, bus stoppage and other crowded areas, said the health secretary.

The government, with the support of UNICEF, WHP, Rotary International and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, mounted a model response to immunise all under-five children
across the country.