In response to a nationwide surge in measles infections, the government has announced a month-long special vaccination campaign set to begin in early June, aiming to immunise approximately 2 crore children outside the routine immunisation programme.
The decision was made at a meeting of the National Immunisation Technical Advisory Committee (NITAG) on Monday, March 30, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
While routine measles vaccination continues, the special campaign will expand coverage, targeting children aged six months to 10 years, reflecting the higher infection rates among older and younger children. Under the regular programme, children receive the first dose at nine months and a second at 15 months.
A registration process will precede the campaign, ensuring that parents are informed of vaccination schedules. The global vaccine alliance, Gavi, will provide funding, vaccines, and logistical support. Supplies have already begun arriving, with syringes and other necessary equipment expected in phases. Field-level health workers will receive training, and microplanning will be conducted to determine the timing and location of vaccinations.
The Health Ministry has allocated Tk 604 crore on an emergency basis to procure new Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) vaccines. Plans are also underway to prepare dedicated hospital facilities, increase ICU beds and ventilators, and strengthen medical support in affected regions.
According to DGHS officials, measles cases are spreading rapidly across Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram, Khulna, and other areas.
EPI officials said that the outbreak is no longer confined to specific regions. It is spreading across much of the country, including Rajshahi and Khulna. Such outbreaks, typically starting in spring, may last around two months. The number of cases has already exceeded 1,500, though we do not yet have accurate data on deaths, they said.
Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said the government is taking urgent steps to control the outbreak. Speaking after a meeting with a delegation led by US Ambassador Brent Christensen at the ministry, he outlined immediate measures, including reopening the Mohakhali Infectious Diseases Hospital ICU within 18 hours and increasing isolation wards, ventilators, and other medical facilities in Dhaka and districts such as Rajshahi and Manikganj.
The minister stressed that although routine measles vaccination has been ongoing for over a decade, there has been no major nationwide campaign since 2018, leaving many children unprotected and contributing to the current surge. “Measles infection is seen more severely among those who have not been vaccinated,” he said.
On international cooperation, the minister noted that the US has been a significant partner during the Covid-19 pandemic and emphasised plans to work together over the next five years to combat infectious diseases, strengthen surveillance systems, and improve maternal and child health services.
“The government is acting swiftly to control the outbreak. I urge the public to remain vigilant but not to panic,” he added.
The June campaign represents the government’s most significant effort yet to curb measles infections in Bangladesh, aiming to cover millions of children and prevent further fatalities.