No upazila in Chattogram meets measles vaccination target in 2025, coverage falls
According to the Chattogram district health department, about 89% of the targeted children were vaccinated across 15 upazilas in 2025, down from approximately 97% in the previous year.
No upazila in Chattogram met the target for measles-rubella vaccination last year, with overall coverage declining and raising concerns over a rise in measles infections among children, health officials said.
According to the district health department, around 320,000 children were targeted to be brought under the vaccination programme across 15 upazilas in 2025.
However, 284,962 children received the vaccine, accounting for about 89% of the target, down from approximately 97% in the previous year.
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The decline was particularly noticeable in the island upazila of Sandwip, where vaccination coverage dropped from nearly 95% in 2024 to about 83% in 2025.
Similar trends were observed in several other upazilas, including Anwara, Banshkhali, Hathazari, Mirsharai, Satkania and Sitakunda.
In these areas, first-dose coverage fell by 9% to 12%, while second-dose coverage declined by 9% to 13%.
Officials said vaccination activities were disrupted in 2025 due to repeated work abstention by health assistants, weaknesses in field-level supervision and administrative limitations, leading to reduced coverage.
Chattogram Civil Surgeon Jahangir Alam said, "Vaccination coverage decreased last year. In 2025, health assistants observed work abstention 7 to 8 times, which directly impacted the vaccination activities."
He added that the district currently has a stock of 109,605 vaccine doses.
The measles situation in the district is also becoming a concern.
According to health department data, 12 children were identified with measles until Friday (3 April), including four in the last 24 hours.
During the same period, 16 children remained admitted to different hospitals with measles symptoms.
Since 28 March, a total of 87 children have received treatment with such symptoms, while two children have died.
Health officials said a significant number of infections are occurring before the scheduled vaccination age, with around 60% of affected children aged nine months or younger.
Boalkhali Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Zafrin Zahed said, "After birth, children receive necessary antibodies from breast milk. We suspect that children are being infected before the scheduled time for vaccination because they are not receiving adequate immunity from their mothers."
Dr Sushanta Barua, member secretary of the Chattogram Public Health Rights Protection Centre, said, "For the first few months after birth, antibodies received from the mother's body protect the child from infections like measles. However, after a certain age, vaccination becomes essential."
He added that reduced global vaccine support after Covid-19, along with lower emphasis and investment in domestic vaccination, has contributed to the current situation.
