A day in the life of a vaccinator in Bangladesh

In the early morning hours, as the sun rises over the hills of Tahirpur Upazila, Abdul Baten starts his day in Bhawanipur village with a quiet routine. The 45-year-old vaccinator is a familiar face in this remote region, 300 kilometers north-east of Dhaka.

Each year, Tahirpur is battered by torrential rains and recurring flash floods that submerge homes, schools, agricultural land and health facilities, leaving families with multitude of threats, including death. As a result, key health indicators such as child immunization coverage rate remain significantly lower here compared to the rest of Bangladesh. Despite the challenges, Baten and many like him continue their life-saving work with resilience and commitment.

“After waking up, I get ready to go to the health complex, making sure that my register, tally sheet and syringes are all set for vaccinating children. When the porter arrives at the distribution point from the health complex, I receive the vaccine carrier from him and head towards the area I am assigned for the day.”

Baten’s journey, while routine and repetitive, is anything but easy. Each day brings a new set of challenges. If the route requires a boat to cross the river, he takes it. If there’s no boat but a bridge to cross, he uses that. And on days when there is neither a boat nor a bridge, Baten wades through water to cross the rivers.

Before setting out, he identifies households with newborns, infants, or pregnant women in the village, ensuring they are all called to the vaccination site.

Today, Baten is heading towards an Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) centre in Moddho Nagar, Uktyargaon, to vaccinate children against preventable diseases like polio. Slung over his shoulder is a familiar companion – his blue vaccine carrier. To most, it is just another box. But actually, it is a mobile, solar-powered fridge that keeps the vaccines at the proper temperature as he navigates the winding paths, river crossings, and Bangladesh’s hot and humid weather.

By the time Baten reaches the EPI center, a small crowd of mothers and fathers has already gathered, clutching their babies, vaccination cards in hand, and waiting patiently in line. Many have walked long distances from nearby villages. 

Before reaching the vaccine ampule, Baten follows a ritual he never skips. He plays a quick round of peek-a-boo with the children or claps to grab their attention. It’s a simple gesture, but one that melts fear into laughter and builds trust with the little ones. As their giggles fill the air, he carefully draws the vaccine, hands steady with years of practice.

One by one Baten vaccinates each child. These children, born in one of the most remote corners of Bangladesh, live in places where doctors, clinics, and vaccines are often hours or even days away. But today, thanks to Baten, they are protected. One dose at a time, one child at a time, he is helping build a healthier future.

“Delaying vaccines can leave children vulnerable to life-threatening diseases. So, every time I vaccinate a child, I feel extremely happy knowing I have helped protect them with my own hands,” says Baten with a proud smile. 

In remote villages like Moddho Nagar, where healthcare is often out of reach, Baten is more than just a vaccinator, he is a lifeline. Over time, he has become a trusted figure in the community, someone people turn to for good health, well-being, and hope.

Despite the remarkable progress of Bangladesh’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), nearly half a million children miss out on full immunization. In a place like Tahirpur, where roads are few and communication is limited, reaching families with lifesaving vaccines is no small feat.

In close collaboration with the Tahirpur Upazila Health Complex and frontline health workers like Baten, UNICEF is helping deliver routine immunization to the children and families, ensuring every child has a chance to grow up healthy. With a combination of technical guidance and financial support from UNICEF and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and implementation support from the Civil Surgeon Office in Sunamganj, the quality of vaccination services has steadily improved. Furthermore, advocacy efforts with local community leaders have also played a crucial role in helping families understand the importance of routine immunization in protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases like polio, measles, rubella, and rotavirus.

At the heart of these efforts are the unsung heroes like Baten—vaccinators who travel far and wide, crossing rivers, passing through rickety bridges, walking through muddy trails, and knocking on doors with vaccine boxes in hand. Their quiet dedication powers the life-saving work, helping break down barriers to essential healthcare, one vaccination drive at a time.

As Baten vaccinates another child, he knows that his hard work is making a difference. He is committed to continuing to make sure no child is left behind.