Govt to launch emergency measles campaign from 5 April with 2.19cr borrowed Gavi doses
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain shared the information with reporters today (1 April) after a meeting at the Secretariat
The government is set to launch an emergency measles vaccination campaign for children aged six months to 10 years from 5 April, borrowing 2.19 crore doses from Gavi (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation).
Previously, measles vaccines were given only to children aged 9-15 months.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakawat Husain announced the fresh vaccination programme at a press briefing at the Secretariat today (1 April), adding that Tk601 crore has been allocated for vaccine purchases.
Once the vaccines are procured, the Gavi doses used will be returned. Syringes will be collected between Wednesday and Thursday, and vaccines sent to all upazilas, prioritising the most affected areas.
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"Within two days, vaccines and syringes will reach rural areas. From 5 April morning, we will inaugurate the campaign at various locations ourselves. Vaccinators will work under local officer supervision," the minister said, noting that all field-level health worker leave has been cancelled to support the drive.
He added that rapid measures have been taken to prevent further casualties. Ventilators were collected from the private sector and deployed across critical locations to ensure children receive timely oxygen support. A previous one-month campaign in December 2020-January 2021 had ended incompletely, leaving many children unvaccinated.
Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) authorities will oversee the campaign, finalising the vaccination schedule and micro-plan of the campaign. Decisions on which centres will conduct the campaign and whether registration is required are still pending, according to Dr Mohammad Shahariar Sajjad, deputy director (EPI), with more details expected Thursday.
BNP Chairman's Advisory Council member and health expert Dr Ziauddin Hyder confirmed that the government is planning to administer vitamin A capsules alongside the vaccines at schools, city corporation areas, and designated centres, though supplies are currently slightly limited.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 2,295 suspected measles cases have been reported this year, including 424 laboratory-confirmed cases. Suspected measles deaths stand at 40, with nine confirmed. By comparison, last year saw only nine cases, and 2024 recorded 64.
Dr Ziauddin Hyder attributed the outbreak to longstanding policy gaps, delayed campaigns, and slow vaccine procurement, saying that inefficiency and lack of preparedness in recent years have left children vulnerable.
Public health experts point to last year's EPI vaccine shortages, disruptions in immunisation activities, and field-level staff protests as key factors.
The Health, Population, and Nutrition Sector Program (HPNSP), also known as the "Sector Program," had provided structured vaccine procurement through operational plans (OPs) since 1998. Plans under the Fifth Sector Program, initiated before the 2024 government change, were cancelled by the interim government on 6 March 2025, and OP-based vaccine procurement was abolished.
Although funds were later allocated, no vaccines were purchased, leaving roughly 40% of children unprotected in 2025. No routine four-year measles campaign was held that year, worsening the outbreak.
