Bangladesh has initiated a nationwide measles-rubella vaccination campaign targeting 3.4 million children who missed previous immunizations, as the country faces its most severe measles outbreak to date. The campaign, launched on Saturday, will run for one month and focuses on children aged 6 to 59 months, lowering the usual minimum vaccination age from 9 months in response to the crisis.
This outbreak has revealed significant gaps in childhood immunization coverage and has placed additional strain on health services already challenged by a seasonal rise in dengue cases. Notably, Bangladesh is currently experiencing the largest measles outbreak globally, with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting over 1,000 deaths linked to the disease.
Health ministry data indicates that since March 15, nearly 187,000 suspected measles cases and 21,099 confirmed infections have been recorded, resulting in more than 165,000 hospitalizations. Among these fatalities, 101 have been confirmed through laboratory testing.
Experts attribute the outbreak to disruptions in routine immunization programs during 2024 and 2025, caused by political instability, changes in vaccine procurement, and the postponement or cancellation of vaccination campaigns. These factors left many children unprotected, especially infants under 9 months who are too young for the standard measles vaccine, thereby accelerating transmission across various age groups.
Since April, emergency and follow-up vaccination efforts have reached nearly 20 million children. However, significant immunity gaps persist, with many eligible children still unvaccinated or missed during previous campaigns. In a significant development, health specialists emphasize that vaccinating every eligible child in the current drive is essential to curbing transmission and preventing future outbreaks of this highly contagious disease.
Authorities assert that the ongoing campaign will help close immunity gaps, reduce severe illness and fatalities, and interrupt transmission chains throughout Bangladesh, aiming to bring the outbreak under control.
Leave an opinion