Nationwide measles vaccination to begin on 3 May: Health minister

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain today (5 April) said measles-rubella vaccines will be given to children simultaneously in all districts and upazilas across the country from 3 May.

He made this statement while speaking at an event organised to inaugurate the measles-rubella vaccination programme at Nawabganj Upazila Health Complex in Dhaka.

The health minister said the special vaccination programme will begin across the country on 3 May to address the measles outbreak in the country.

In addition, he said, a special vaccination programme will start in Dhaka North and South City Corporations, and in Mymensingh and Barishal districts on 12 April.

Later, Sakhawat Husain said, it will be expanded across the country in phases.

Commenting on the mismanagement of past governments, he said the measles outbreak has occurred due to such mismanagement and, according to the World Health Organization, 82% of patients are under the age of 5, so they are being vaccinated first.

The rest will be vaccinated later in phases, the minister added.

Meanwhile, the vaccination programme for children aged 6 to 59 months started in 30 upazilas of 18 districts this morning.

Sakhawat Husain inaugurated the vaccination programme at Nawabganj Upazila Health Complex.

The 30 upazilas initially brought under the special vaccination programme are: Godagari in Rajshahi; Nawabganj in Dhaka; Louhajang, Sadar, and Srinagar in Munshiganj; Nalchiti in Jhalokati; Trishal, Sadar, and Phulpur in Mymensingh; Haimchar and Sadar in Chandpur; Mehendiganj and Bakerganj in Barishal; Ishwardi, Sadar, Atgharia, and Bera in Pabna; Porsha in Naogaon; Gazipur Sadar; Atpara in Netrokona; Jajira in Shariatpur; Barguna Sadar; Madaripur Sadar; Maheshkhali and Ramu in Cox's Bazar; Chapainawabganj Sadar; Shibganj; Bholahat; Natore Sadar; and Jashore Sadar.