Sumit Sarkar Sumon: For over a month, several crucial vaccines under the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) have been unavailable in Munshiganj, preventing thousands of newborns from receiving timely vaccinations.

Parents have been taking their infants to hospitals and vaccination centers every day but are returning without vaccines.

Health officials have warned that this delay is increasing health risks for children, though they remain unsure when the vaccine supply will resume.

According to health officials, if the vaccine shortage is not resolved quickly, children may become vulnerable to diseases such as polio, rubella, diphtheria, pneumonia, whooping cough, tetanus, and jaundice.

At Munshiganj General Hospital, it was reported that 2,700 children in the district’s center have missed their vaccinations due to the shortage.

Parents, repeatedly visiting hospitals and vaccination centers, are left in uncertainty, adding to their concerns.

Officials unaware of vaccine arrival date
Health officials at the hospital confirmed that vaccines for polio, rubella, diphtheria, pneumonia, whooping cough, tetanus, and jaundice have not been supplied for the past month.

In short, no EPI vaccines are available, according to health workers at the hospital.

Rubina Khatun, a resident of South Islampur, said: “My child is four months old. I managed to get one vaccination, but for the past month, I’ve been visiting Munshiganj General Hospital for the second dose without success. Health officials keep telling me the vaccines haven’t arrived and that they’ll inform us once they do.”

Md Ratan Mia, a resident of Mahakali, shared a similar story.

He said: “Over the past month and a half, I’ve gone three times to the hospital and municipal health center for my child’s vaccination, but no vaccines are available. The health workers keep sending us back, unable to say when the vaccines will come. I’m really worried.”

Moyna Begum from Khalisht also expressed her frustration: “I’ve gone four times in the last month for the vaccines. Health officials told me to come again in the first week of next month, but even then, they can’t guarantee the vaccines will be available.

“Each hospital visit costs us a lot, and this has become a real burden. My child is three months old, and I haven’t been able to get the second vaccine dose,” she added.

Masud Parvez Nahid, a vaccinator at Munshiganj General Hospital, said: “For the past month and a half, we haven’t had any supply of oral polio vaccines (OPV), Pentavalent, PCV, TT, or any other EPI vaccines. We’ve faced shortages before, but this is the longest one. Previously, the vaccines were provided free by the WHO, but now we have to purchase them, which is causing delays. Currently, 2,700 children in Munshiganj’s central area are due for vaccinations. We hope the shortage will be resolved soon.”

Olivia Akter, a health assistant from Munshiganj Municipality, said: “These vaccines protect children from diseases like polio, rubella, diphtheria, pneumonia, whooping cough, tetanus, and jaundice. However, not getting the vaccine right now doesn’t mean they’ll immediately contract these diseases. Hopefully, the vaccines will arrive soon, and we’ll call in all the children who missed their doses.”

Health risks of delayed vaccination
Faieka Hafeez, a pediatric consultant at Munshiganj General Hospital, said: “This vaccine shortage is affecting many areas, and it’s putting children at health risk. The diseases these vaccines prevent could resurface if this issue persists. I urge the authorities to resolve this shortage as soon as possible.”

She added: “Even if children don’t get the vaccines within a month, it won’t cause severe harm, but the gap between doses shouldn’t be extended too long. Normally, there’s a one-month gap between vaccines, and if it extends to two or three months, then complications could arise. Without these vaccines, children may be vulnerable to diseases like tuberculosis, hepatitis, measles, rubella, and polio. Tuberculosis, in particular, is still a significant threat in our country. Vaccines have helped control this disease, and we always recommend completing the vaccination schedule right after a child’s birth.”

When asked about the cause of the vaccine shortage, Munshiganj Civil Surgeon Dr Manjurul Alam said: “This shortage isn’t just in Munshiganj; it’s nationwide. The vaccines are supplied from Mohakhali, and we’ve communicated our demands to them. We’ve been following up every day, but it’s been two weeks since we last received any vaccines. They’ve asked us to wait for a few more days due to a supply disruption. If the vaccines arrive within the year, there won’t be any issues, but if the delay extends further, there will be health risks. We’re hopeful that the vaccines will be delivered soon.”

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