Dhaka – The government of Bangladesh rolled out a nationwide measles‑rubella vaccination campaign on Saturday, aiming to immunize roughly 3.4 million children who missed earlier shots. The effort comes as the country confronts its worst measles outbreak on record, with more than 1,000 deaths and tens of thousands of infections.
Why the campaign was expanded
Health officials lowered the minimum vaccination age from the usual nine months to six months for this drive, recognizing that infants under nine months are especially vulnerable because they cannot yet receive the routine measles vaccine. The month‑long campaign targets children aged six months to 59 months who were not reached during previous immunisation rounds.
Scope of the outbreak
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Bangladesh is currently experiencing the world’s largest measles outbreak. The health ministry reports 1,087 confirmed and suspected measles‑related deaths, including 101 laboratory‑confirmed fatalities. Since March 15, authorities have logged nearly 187,000 suspected cases and 21,099 confirmed infections, with more than 165,000 people hospitalised.
Underlying causes
Experts attribute the crisis to disruptions in routine immunisation programmes during 2024‑2025, when political turbulence, changes in vaccine procurement and the postponement or cancellation of campaigns left many children unprotected. Gaps in vaccine supply and missed doses left infants and older children alike exposed to the highly contagious disease.
Previous emergency efforts
Since April, Bangladesh has already vaccinated close to 20 million children through emergency and follow‑up campaigns. Nevertheless, health officials warn that significant immunity gaps remain, and many eligible children were still missed in earlier drives.
Goals of the new drive
The current campaign is intended to close those gaps, reduce severe illness and deaths, and break chains of transmission across the country. Authorities stress that reaching every eligible child is critical to slowing the spread and preventing future outbreaks.
Impact on health services
The outbreak has placed additional strain on a health system already coping with a seasonal surge in dengue infections. By accelerating vaccination, the government hopes to alleviate pressure on hospitals and clinics, allowing them to focus on other urgent health needs.
Health ministry spokesperson Ruma Paul said the campaign reflects the government’s commitment to protecting children’s health and restoring confidence in the nation’s immunisation programme.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
