DHAKA, Bangladesh — Bangladesh is rolling out emergency vaccinations for measles and rubella in response to an outbreak that has claimed the lives of over 100 children in just a few weeks.
The government, collaborating with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Gavi vaccine alliance, started vaccinating children aged 6 months to 5 years in 18 high-risk districts on Sunday, with plans to expand this effort nationwide in phases starting next month.
A representative from UNICEF expressed grave concern about the recent surge in cases, which is placing the youngest and most vulnerable children at significant risk.
Rana Flowers, the UNICEF representative in Bangladesh, noted, “This resurgence highlights critical immunity gaps, particularly among zero-dose and under-vaccinated children. The situation is particularly alarming for infants under nine months who aren’t eligible for routine vaccinations.”
Currently, there have been over 900 confirmed cases of measles among 7,500 suspected cases reported since March 15 in the country of more than 170 million people.
Measles is highly contagious, spreading through the air and causing fever, respiratory issues, and a characteristic rash. It can lead to severe complications or even be fatal, especially for young children, according to WHO guidelines.
Vaccination is essential to curb the outbreak, but WHO states that a 95% vaccination rate in the population is needed to effectively halt its spread.
In a recent parliamentary session, Bangladesh’s Health Minister, Sardar Mohammed Sakhawat Husain, attributed the new outbreak to mismanagement and failures of former governments.
He criticized the previous administration of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, saying they didn’t make the right decisions regarding vaccine stockpiles, resulting in shortages for measles and six other diseases.
The vaccination effort for measles faced interruptions amid Bangladesh’s political turmoil. Hasina was removed in a mass uprising in 2024, and Yunus’s temporary government eventually handed power to an elected administration following the elections in February.
Health officials are urging parents to seek medical attention if measles is suspected. F. A. Asma Khan, deputy director of the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Dhaka, advised against relying on over-the-counter medications for high fevers, suggesting parents take children to the hospital as soon as possible for appropriate treatment.
Since the launch of a comprehensive immunization campaign in 1979, Bangladesh has made significant progress, increasing the rate of fully immunized children from 2% to 81.6%.
However, UNICEF cautioned last year that despite these advancements, substantial disparities in immunization coverage remain.
