Interim govt’s wrong decisions affected immunisation programme: Health minister
The government has also prepared a 15-month vaccine procurement plan for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which includes a three-month buffer stock, he said, adding that the process will also be started through Unicef.
Highlights
- Bangladesh is recognised as a "Vaccine Hero" by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
- The government is now procuring vaccines through UNICEF instead of an open tender
- The Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign 2026 has reached 93% coverage
Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain has said some wrong decisions taken by the previous interim government affected Bangladesh's successful and internationally recognised Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI).
He made the remarks at a press briefing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport today (6 May) after receiving a consignment of measles-rubella vaccines and oral polio vaccines used under the EPI with support from the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) and the global vaccine alliance Gavi.
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"Routine immunisation activities have been conducted under the EPI since 1979 to protect the health of children and women against 12 vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. It is now a globally recognised successful programme, and Gavi has recognised Bangladesh as a 'Vaccine Hero'," the minister said.
Citing a joint study by the Health Ministry and Unicef, Sakhawat said the EPI prevents the deaths of around one lakh children and protects about 50 lakh people from diseases every year.
"It is deeply regrettable that this successful and internationally recognised EPI was affected due to some wrong decisions taken by the previous interim government. However, the hopeful thing is that the prime minister and the health ministry have given EPI the highest priority, as it is directly linked to saving children's lives," he said.
The minister said an initiative had earlier been taken to procure vaccines through an open tender. After taking charge, he cancelled the decision within two weeks and requested Unicef to supply the vaccines.
"The government has released the required funds to Unicef very quickly," he said.
The government has already provided $83.6 million to Unicef, through which 95 million doses of 10 types of vaccines are being procured, the minister said.
After receiving the funds on 9 April and 17 April 2026, Unicef supplied 1,505,000 doses of IPV vaccine in the first shipment on 3 May 2026.
"Today, 6 May 2026, Unicef supplied an additional 15 lakh doses of MR and Td vaccines, equivalent to 90,000 vials," Sakhawat said. "By 10 May 2026, around 1.8 crore more doses of MR, Td, BCG, TCV, bOPV and pentavalent vaccines will arrive in the country, and the supply process will be completed.
Unicef has planned to complete the full vaccine supply by September 2026," the minister said. He said that due to Unicef's global capacity, the government has decided to procure additional vaccines worth $35 million through Unicef.
The government has also prepared a 15-month vaccine procurement plan for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which includes a three-month buffer stock, he said, adding that the process will also be started through Unicef.
"At present, we have sufficient stock of TCV and HPV vaccines for two years. With this new supply, Bangladesh will not face any shortage of other vaccines for the next eight to 12 months," Sakhawat said. "As vaccine procurement is a continuous process, the government has taken necessary plans with the highest priority," he added.
The minister said the quality of vaccines is being maintained from manufacturers to the field level through a world-class cold chain system.
Unicef is providing regular technical support in this process, including microplanning, training, awareness campaigns and real-time reporting. Special vaccination campaign for measles.
Alongside routine immunisation, special vaccination campaigns are also conducted considering disease outbreaks, Sakhawat added.
Referring to the ongoing measles outbreak, the minister said the "Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign 2026" is being implemented across the country.
"The campaign was supposed to start on 19 April, but with Unicef's support, it was possible to start it from 5 April. In this regard, I would like to especially thank Unicef's Bangladesh representative Rana Flowers," he said.
Regarding the ongoing campaign, he said 1,68,21,605 children had received vaccines under the "Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign 2026" till 5 May. "We have achieved 93% coverage. We are moving towards achieving 100% coverage," the minister said.
