Interim govt's flawed policies disrupt vaccination programme: State Minister

State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. M A Muhit has said that disruptions in the measles vaccination programme occurred due to flawed policies under the previous interim government.

He made the remarks on Monday (April 20) after inaugurating the Measles-Rubella Vaccination Programme 2026 at Shahjadpur Upazila Health Complex in Sirajganj.

Dr. Muhit said measles can only be prevented through vaccination, but past policy failures hindered the implementation of necessary immunisation drives.

He added that an emergency vaccination programme should have been launched in 2025 following the 2020 cycle, but it was not carried out at the time.

The minister said that shortly after the current government assumed office, a measles outbreak emerged within 15 days, prompting swift medical and preventive responses.

He further stated that the vaccination campaign was first implemented in high-risk areas and later expanded to five major city corporations before launching a nationwide drive on Monday.

Under the programme, an estimated 1.78 crore children will be vaccinated across the country, he said.

Officials including Sirajganj Civil Surgeon Dr. Md. Nurul Amin and Shahjadpur Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Masud Rana were present at the event.