Marking the launch of the World Immunization Week 2025, UNICEF, WHO, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) warned that while Bangladesh has made strong strides to increase immunization coverage, stark disparities persist.

Despite the remarkable progress of the country's Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), around 400,000 children are under-immunized, and 70,000 (1.5%) have received no vaccines at all. The gap is wider in urban areas – only 79% fully vaccinated, with 2.4% zero-dose and 9.8% under-immunized – compared to rural areas with 85% coverage.[1]

"Since the launch of the EPI in 1979, Bangladesh has made remarkable progress—raising the coverage of fully immunized children from just 2% to 81.6%. This success reflects Bangladesh´s strong commitment and the tireless efforts of partners, NGOs, and frontline health workers. But the final mile remains the hardest. Reaching every child and woman, especially in hard-to-reach and urban poor areas, demands renewed urgency, strengthened efforts, and increased investment,” said Stanley Gwavuya, UNICEF Representative OiC in Bangladesh. “UNICEF will continue its support to Bangladesh immunization programme to reach the last mile through the provision of technical support to planning, supply chain, cold chain, digital innovations and demand generation,” he added.