The government has launched an intensified nationwide measles-rubella catch-up vaccination campaign targeting 3.4 million children aged 6-59 months who missed previous doses.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain inaugurated the campaign at the TNT ground in Mohakhali on Saturday.

Speaking at the inauguration, the minister said 18,500,833 children had so far been vaccinated under the nationwide measles-rubella program.

He said the country’s measles situation had become critical following a prolonged gap in vaccination.

“Malnutrition rates are high among children infected with measles. Malnourished children who contract measles quickly develop pneumonia and fall into critical condition,” he said.

Medical experts identify pneumonia and malnutrition as among the leading causes of death among children infected with measles, he added.

The minister said the vaccination program began on April 5 after he assumed office. In the first phase, activities were conducted in 18 districts in three stages, as designated by Unicef.

Dhaka and two other major city corporations were later brought under the program, while the nationwide campaign was expanded ahead of schedule from April 20.

He said the number of measles infections had increased because of the vaccination gap, with around 1,000 children dying during the period.

“The death of even a single child is deeply tragic. It inflicts irreparable loss upon a family,” he said.

Unvaccinated children targeted

The minister said 22.5 million children were covered under the Vitamin A capsule programme, compared with around 18.5 million who received measles-rubella vaccines.

To address the gap of around 4 million children, an initiative was launched to identify those who had missed vaccination. Around 1.4 million children were subsequently identified and vaccinated.

However, as measles has not yet been brought fully under control, the government has launched the latest catch-up campaign, he said.

Unicef supplied an additional 4 million vaccine doses within 10 days, the minister said.

Combining the new supply with existing stocks, the current campaign targets 3.4 million children, including 1 million infants and 2.4 million children who previously missed vaccination.

Vaccination camps at union level

Vaccination activities have been intensified from Saturday through camps in every union across the country. Activities at the upazila level will be coordinated by the local administration,  civil surgeons, upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) and health workers.

Vaccines will also be administered on holidays to accommodate working mothers, while vaccination activities will continue after sunset, the minister said.

The campaign aims to cover all children aged 6-59 months.

Around 1 million vaccine doses are expected to remain in stock after the current campaign, he said.

So far, 4.3 million doses have been distributed among various upazilas, and the remaining supplies will be preserved for future programmes.

The minister said Bangladeshi medical professionals had consistently demonstrated dedication during epidemics and other emergencies.

Given Bangladesh’s high population density, measles can spread rapidly, with children easily becoming infected through contact with an infected child, he said.

He urged all stakeholders, including the media, to cooperate in ensuring the success of the vaccination campaign.

SM/CitizenTimes