As part of an intensified response to the current diphtheria outbreak, WHO, UNICEF and health sector partners are working with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to vaccinate more than 475,000 children in Rohingya camps, temporary settlements and surrounding areas, said a WHO press release.
"All efforts are being made to stop further spread of diphtheria. The vaccination of children in the Rohingya camps and nearby areas demonstrates the health sector's commitment to protecting people, particularly children, against deadly diseases," quoted the press release as Dr Bardan Jung Rana, WHO Repre-sentative to Bangladesh said. Reports BSS.
Nearly 150,000 children aged six weeks to seven years received pentavalent vaccine (that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, haemophilus influenza type b and hepatitis B), and nearly 166,000 children aged 7 to 17 years were given tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine, during a three-week vaccination campaign that ended on 31 December.
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