'No need to declare measles emergency,' health minister says as nationwide vaccination begins

Health and Family Planning Minister Sardar Sakhawat Husain has said the current measles situation does not warrant declaring an emergency, as the government has launched a nationwide vaccination campaign to contain the outbreak.

He made the remarks this morning (20 April) after inaugurating the Measles-Rubella (MR) Vaccination Campaign-2026 at Little Angels Seminary in Zinda Park, Rupganj, Narayanganj.

"The situation is not such that an emergency must be declared," he said, adding that the number of patients is already showing signs of decline.

The minister said vaccination had initially begun on 5 April in selected areas and has now been expanded nationwide.

"From today, vaccination has started across the country. Within the next 2-3 days, the number of infections will decrease," he added.

He also said that ICU support and ventilators have been arranged in different parts of the country following the first reported deaths.

"The previous government did not leave vaccines to us. We quickly procured vaccines through Gavi and Unicef," he said.

Responding to questions, he said it is difficult to determine how long it will take to fully overcome the situation, but stressed that the current state cannot be described as a pandemic.

He added that measles prevalence in Dhaka remains relatively low, with many patients coming from other districts.

Among others present at the inauguration and subsequent event were Narayanganj-1 constituency MP Mustafizur Rahman Bhuiyan, Director General of DGHS Dr Prabhat Chandra Biswas, Deputy Commissioner Raihan Kabir and District Civil Surgeon AFM Mushiur Rahman.

Notably, under the nationwide campaign, a total of 17,840,536 children aged between six months and under five years will be vaccinated.

The vaccine will be administered daily from 8am at both permanent and temporary vaccination centres, except on weekly holidays.

The campaign will continue until 20 May in city corporation areas and until 12 May in other parts of the country.

Earlier phases of the campaign began on 5 April in 30 upazilas and 13 municipalities, targeting around 12 lakh children. In four city corporations – Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Mymensingh and Barishal – the programme started on 12 April, aiming to vaccinate 976,838 children.

According to official data, a total of 1,953,843 children have already been vaccinated in two phases across the country until yesterday (19 April).

The Directorate General of Health Services has advised that children who are currently ill or have a fever should not receive the vaccine until they recover.

It also said the second dose should not be administered if four weeks have not passed since the first dose.