100% children to be covered under measles vaccine next week: Health Minister

Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain has said all eligible children will be brought under measles vaccination within the next week.

He made the statement on Thursday (April 30) at a programme held at TB Hospital in Shyamoli, Dhaka, where the United States handed over GeneXpert cartridges and anti-tuberculosis medicines for children under the National Tuberculosis Control Programme.

The minister said the US provided 600,000 GeneXpert cartridges and medicines for 11,000 children, which will help strengthen tuberculosis control efforts. He added that there is no shortage of vaccines or syringes, and supplies will reach all centres across the country by Friday.

Addressing reports of a vaccine shortage, he dismissed claims regarding a polio vaccine crisis at Mirpur City Health Center. According to the minister, an investigation found that a patient received the vaccine but later claimed otherwise. He stressed that there is no shortage of polio vaccines.

Sakhawat Hossain said gaps in planning and implementation over the past 17 years have affected health service delivery, but the current administration is working to stabilise the system.

On measles prevention, he said routine vaccination had been disrupted for several years. Emergency measures were taken to resume the programme with support from international partners, including UNICEF, Gavi, the World Bank and the United States.

The nationwide measles vaccination drive, originally scheduled for early next month, was brought forward. The campaign began on April 20 after vaccines became available.

The minister said 61% of the target population has already been covered. Full coverage is expected within the next week, with some areas already achieving 100%. He added that no measles cases have been reported in the first 30 upazilas where the campaign began.

Regarding dengue preparedness, he said temporary tents will be set up at a university from Friday to manage patient pressure if needed. He stressed that prevention remains the priority and urged city corporations to intensify mosquito control efforts.