Childhood vaccination schedule in Bangladesh (EPI): what and when

Bangladesh’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) is the government programme that vaccinates children. Vaccines train the body’s defence system (the immune system) to fight serious infections. This guide covers which vaccines your child should get and when, what to do if a dose is missed, when to get urgent care, and who to ask for help.

Always follow the dates written on your child’s EPI vaccination card. The schedule can change, so the card and your local EPI centre have the final word.

Why the schedule matters right now

Since March 2026 Bangladesh has had its largest measles outbreak on record. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that between 15 March and 18 October 2026 there were 213,244 suspected measles cases, including 23,122 confirmed cases, and 1,092 suspected deaths. The outbreak was still going on in October 2026 (WHO South-East Asia epidemiological bulletin, October 2026).

In April 2026 WHO reported that 79% of cases were in children under 5, and that deaths were mainly among unvaccinated children under 2. Many cases were in children who had no measles vaccine or only one dose. WHO said measles-rubella vaccine coverage fell because the vaccine ran out across the country in 2024–2025 (WHO Disease Outbreak News, 23 April 2026).

On 5 April 2026 the government started an emergency measles-rubella campaign for children aged 6 months to under 5 years. It began in high-risk areas and was then expanded nationwide (WHO and UNICEF, April 2026). If your child has missed any measles-rubella dose, take their card to your nearest EPI centre and ask how to catch up.

The routine EPI schedule for babies and young children

The schedule below comes from published descriptions of the Bangladesh EPI schedule.

Age	Vaccines	What they protect against
At birth (or as soon as possible)	BCG	Tuberculosis (TB)
6 weeks	Pentavalent (dose 1), OPV (dose 1), PCV (dose 1), fIPV (dose 1)	Diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, Hib, polio, pneumococcal disease
10 weeks	Pentavalent (dose 2), OPV (dose 2), PCV (dose 2)	As above
14 weeks	Pentavalent (dose 3), OPV (dose 3), fIPV (dose 2)	As above
18 weeks	PCV (dose 3)	Pneumococcal disease
9 months	MR (dose 1)	Measles and rubella
15 months	MR (dose 2)	Measles and rubella

Note: Some sources list the third PCV dose at 14 weeks instead of 18 weeks. Follow the date your health worker writes on the card.

What the names mean

BCG: Bacillus Calmette–Guérin, the tuberculosis vaccine given at birth.
Pentavalent (‘Penta’): one vaccine that protects against five diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).
OPV: oral polio vaccine, given by mouth.
fIPV: fractional inactivated polio vaccine. It is one-fifth of a full dose of injected polio vaccine, given into the skin. It is used together with the oral polio vaccine.
PCV: pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, which protects against pneumococcal disease.
MR: measles-rubella vaccine. Two doses, at 9 and 15 months, are recommended for full protection against measles.

Typhoid vaccine (TCV)

Typhoid is an infection caused by bacteria. It spreads through contaminated food and water, and it is common in Bangladesh. From 12 October 2025 the government ran a nationwide campaign giving one dose of typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) to children aged 9 months to under 15 years. WHO reported that 42.47 million children were vaccinated, which is 97% of the target (WHO, February 2026).

UNICEF said in October 2025 that after the campaign, TCV would be available for infants under one year through routine immunisation. Ask your EPI centre whether your baby should get it and at what age, and whether an older child who missed the 2025 campaign can still get it.

HPV vaccine for girls

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus that causes cervical cancer (cancer of the neck of the womb). UNICEF estimates that cervical cancer kills about 5,000 women in Bangladesh every year. The government began giving girls a single dose of HPV vaccine in a campaign that started in October 2023. In the 2024 phase, UNICEF reported that 5.6 million girls were vaccinated, which is 93% of girls aged 10–14 (UNICEF, December 2024). UNICEF says HPV vaccine became part of routine immunisation for girls in 2025. Ask your school, EPI centre or health worker how and when your daughter can get it.

Vaccines for mothers

Bangladesh has eliminated tetanus in mothers and newborn babies. Vaccinating women helps keep it that way. Ask your antenatal care provider or EPI centre whether you need a tetanus vaccine before or during pregnancy, and how many doses.

If your child missed a dose

Take your child and the EPI card to the nearest EPI centre as soon as you can. The health worker will tell you which doses your child still needs.
Keep the EPI card safe and bring it to every visit, including visits to private clinics.
If you have lost the card, tell the health worker. They can help work out which doses your child still needs.

After a vaccine

Before you leave the vaccination session, ask the health worker which reactions to expect and what to do if you are worried. Ask a doctor or health worker before giving your child anything after a vaccine.

Warning signs: get urgent medical care

If your child seems seriously unwell after a vaccine, go to the nearest hospital emergency department straight away.

Measles can be dangerous. It spreads easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Early signs include a high fever, often with a runny nose, red eyes, a cough and tiny white spots inside the mouth. A rash follows. Babies too young to be vaccinated can also catch measles. If you think your child has measles, see a doctor. If your child with these signs seems very ill, go to a hospital straight away.

For advice from a doctor at any hour, call the government health helpline Shasthyo Batayon 16263. In an emergency, do not wait on the phone. Go to a hospital.

Which doctor or service to see

Routine vaccines: your nearest government EPI centre or outreach vaccination session. Health workers and family welfare staff can tell you the session days.
Questions about your child’s health, delays, or catching up on missed doses: a paediatrician (a doctor for children, shishu rog bishesoggo).
A newborn who is unwell: a paediatrician or neonatologist (a doctor for newborn babies).
Vaccines during pregnancy: your obstetrician-gynaecologist or antenatal care provider.
A serious reaction after vaccination: go to a hospital emergency department first. Then tell the EPI centre so the reaction can be recorded and checked.

A doctor decides any treatment based on the child’s age and condition.

Key points

EPI vaccines protect young children against at least ten serious diseases.
The main visits are at birth, 6, 10, 14 and 18 weeks, 9 months and 15 months.
Two doses of measles-rubella vaccine, at 9 and 15 months, matter more than ever during the 2026 measles outbreak.
A one-time typhoid campaign reached children aged 9 months to under 15 years in 2025, and HPV vaccine is now offered to girls through routine immunisation.
If a dose is missed, take the card to the EPI centre and ask how to catch up.
Keep the EPI card safe, and call 16263 if you are unsure.

Find a doctor

Browse Child Diseases doctors in Bangladesh on ratings.com.bd, with chambers and, where listed, visiting hours and phone numbers.

Sources

This article is general information, not medical advice. It was written by AI from the sources above. It did not pass the automatic check, and an administrator chose to publish it; no doctor or editor has reviewed it. For a diagnosis or treatment, see a registered doctor.