Nearly 1.8 crore children have been brought under a nationwide measles-rubella vaccination campaign, which has "significantly" reduced measles infections among children, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Director General Pravath Chandra Biswas said on Wednesday.
He said coverage has reached “almost 100%” of the target population in the ongoing campaign, adding that measles infection has declined notably in areas covered in the first phase.
Citing World Health Organization (WHO) data, Biswas said measles cases have recently increased globally, with some impact also observed in Bangladesh. He said the government is prioritizing full immunization to protect every child.
The vaccination drive was conducted in phases. The first phase began on April 5 in 30 upazilas and 13 municipalities across 18 high-risk districts. The second phase followed on April 12 in Dhaka North, Dhaka South, Mymensingh and Barisal city corporations. The campaign was later expanded nationwide from April 20.
According to DGHS data (DHIS-2), around 1.8 crore children have already been vaccinated, covering nearly the entire target group. Authorities said immunity typically develops within three weeks of vaccination, with further declines in infections expected in rural areas.
Biswas urged guardians to ensure vaccination for all eligible children, including those who have already received two routine doses under the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). He said at least 95% coverage is required to eliminate measles transmission.
He added that the government is using the Rapid Convenience Monitoring (RCM) app to identify unvaccinated children, alongside nationwide awareness campaigns through posters, leaflets, infographics, video messages, talk shows and television scrolls.
The campaign has also included evening sessions, Friday special drives and mobile vaccination teams for hard-to-reach and underprivileged areas.
DGHS said routine immunization services continue to ensure steady supply of key vaccines, including measles-rubella doses administered at nine and 15 months.
To strengthen supply chains, the government has begun large-scale procurement with UNICEF support, finalizing plans for around 9.5 crore doses of vaccines across 10 categories.
Since May 3, shipments have arrived including 2,74,000 vials of BCG vaccine, 1,40,000 vials of oral polio vaccine (OPV), 6,45,000 vials of measles-rubella (MR) vaccine, 1,36,816 vials of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), 2,45,450 vials of pentavalent vaccine and 3,05,000 vials of Td vaccine.
Officials said stocks of typhoid and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are currently adequate, and further supplies will continue arriving to prevent shortages.
Biswas said the scale of vaccine procurement was unprecedented, crediting government prioritization and international support for ensuring uninterrupted immunization services.
Senior health officials, including Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on health affairs Dr SM Ziauddin Hyder, Additional Director General (Administration) Prof Dr Md Zahid Raihan and Director (Hospitals) Dr Abu Hussain Md Moinul Ahsan, were present at the briefing.