Bangladesh Launches Measles Vaccination Drive

• Bangladesh launched a measles vaccination drive, targeting over a million children.
• The outbreak has caused 17 confirmed deaths and over 7,500 suspected infections nationwide.
• The campaign, supported by UNICEF and WHO, prioritizes children aged 6 months to 5 years.

Bangladesh on Sunday launched an emergency vaccination campaign targeting more than a million children as a fast-spreading measles outbreak led to causalities throughout the country.

Health ministry figures show there have been 17 confirmed deaths from measles so far, with 113 suspected deaths and more than 7,500 suspected infections spreading nationwide. The health ministry in Bangladesh has been supported by UNICEF and the World Health Organization for the vaccination drive.

They began the vaccination drive in 18 high-risk districts, according to a joint press release. The drive is prioritizing children aged six months to five years, particularly those who missed their routine immunization and face a risk of complications.

“UNICEF is deeply concerned about the sharp rise in measles cases across Bangladesh, putting thousands of children, especially the youngest and most vulnerable, at serious risk,” the statement read.

Hospitals in several high-burden regions are already overcrowded and operating with limited capacity, further raising concerns for the spread. As per Reuters, the outbreak, which has so far spread across 56 of Bangladesh’s 64 districts, is expected to continue in the coming days but would likely be curtailed once a vaccination campaign is rolled out.

As authorities work to contain the outbreak, officials state that the emergency vaccination drive will complement the immunization efforts.

Amid the nationwide health scare, Minister Tarique Rehman directed two senior ministers to travel across the South Asian nation of 179 million people to assess the scale of the crisis and help coordinate a response.

Data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday showed that the number of children aged six months to five years with suspected measles symptoms soared to 6,476. Measles is one of the world’s most contagious diseases and can affect a person of any age. It is most common among children and can cause complications, including brain swelling and severe breathing problems.

To ensure that the sudden spread across the region can be stopped as soon as possible, Dhaka has identified 30 of the most affected areas in the region and has started its vaccination programme.