Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has received the prestigious “Vaccine Hero” award in recognition of Bangladesh’s outstanding success in vaccination to immunize children.
Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunisations (GAVI), a global vaccine alliance, conferred the award on the prime minister at a ceremony at the UN Headquarters in New York on Monday.
GAVI Board chair Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala handed over the award to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Receiving the award, She dedicated it to the people of Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina said the success of Bangladesh in vaccination program is now globally acknowledged. “This award is not of mine, it’s the award of the people of Bangladesh.”
“I’m equally honoured to receive the ‘Vaccine Hero’ award on behalf of Bangladesh and all the frontline health workers of my country.”

She hoped to reach the target of ‘vaccines for all’ in the country well ahead of 2030. “We’re committed to immunising under universal health coverage with support from international community,” she added.
She said the sudden influx of 1.1 million ‘Forcibly Displaced Rohingyas’ in Cox’s Bazar from Rakhine State is a formidable challenge to our health sector as they did not have access to any proper health services in Myanmar.
“We’ve taken extraordinary measures to raise immunity of the Rohingyas through vaccination campaign and routine immunisation. We’ve successfully conducted cholera vaccination, dealt with diphtheria and measles outbreak at the camps,” she said.
Before handing over the award, a citation was read out by GAVI chair Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The citation said, “This is an award for those who have set out a clear ambition and displayed urgency in providing lifesaving vaccines to children and ensuring that no child is left out.”
>Juthy Saha