While the present BNP government was rightfully lauded for acting swiftly in launching a vaccination drive after the spike in measles infections, that, as per reports, nearly 4 million fewer children received the measles-rubella vaccine than those covered under the government’s recent Vitamin A Plus campaign is very worrying.
Indeed, with measles cases still not showing signs of abating, and children continuing to die daily, it is safe to say that, despite the government’s best interests, our immunization efforts when it comes to tackling measles have, quite literally, fallen short.
There are numerous questions that must be asked: How and why did this happen? Was it logistical failure, mismanagement of supply chains, or inadequate outreach in rural areas?
Whatever the reason, and those reasons must be understood, the consequences are clear: Millions of children remain vulnerable to the disease, and it is Bangladesh who loses out and risks reversing hard-won gains in immunization.
Beyond a full investigation for why we had this shortage, it is equally important to ensure that we identify those who still need the vaccine and administer it with immediate effect.
For the future, however, it is clear that vaccination campaigns must be strengthened, and even our supply chains must be better audited.
This would mean community health workers needing better resources and support to reach every household, along with better public awareness to ensure parents understand the risks of skipping immunization, which is the foundation of public health.
It is tragic how a preventable disease such as measles has killed hundreds of children, and that it continues to do so. We must leave no stone unturned to ensure that we eliminate it.
