Bangladesh to Launch Measles Vaccination on April 20

The government will launch a nationwide measles vaccination campaign on April 20, bringing the schedule forward by two weeks to combat recent outbreaks. Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain announced the decision in Parliament on Wednesday.

Responding to an urgent public importance notice raised by MP Rumin Farhana, the Minister assured the house that vaccine stocks are stable. "There is no crisis regarding measles vaccines. We have procured the necessary doses to protect the children of Bangladesh," he stated.

To ensure transparency and speed, the government has bypassed the traditional tender process, procuring 21.9 million doses directly from UNICEF. The Minister noted that since April 5, over 3.48 lakh doses have already been dispatched to high-risk upazilas.

Addressing management concerns, the Minister acknowledged previous delays in vaccination programs but emphasized that the current administration is resolving these issues. He also confirmed that health workers who faced salary delays for the past nine months are now being paid in phases.

The Minister urged the public not to panic, confirming that the "cold chain" for vaccine storage is being strictly maintained to ensure efficacy.