Measles-Rubella vaccination reaches 1.80cr children, measles infections decline: DGHS

The nationwide measles-rubella vaccination campaign has significantly reduced measles infections among children, according to Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), which says around 1.80 crore children have now been brought under the programme—nearly the full target.

Speaking at a press briefing at DGHS headquarters on Wednesday (May 13), Director General Prof. Dr. Prabhat Chandra Biswas said recent data from the World Health Organization shows a global rise in measles cases, with Bangladesh also affected earlier this year.

He said the government responded by rapidly scaling up a nationwide immunisation drive. The campaign initially began on April 5 in 30 high-risk upazilas across 18 districts and 13 municipalities, before expanding to all city corporations, including Dhaka North, Dhaka South, Mymensingh and Barishal.

According to DHIS-2 data, measles transmission has declined notably in areas covered under the first phase of the campaign. Health officials noted that immunity typically develops within three weeks of vaccination, suggesting further reductions in infection rates in the coming days.

The DGHS chief urged parents to ensure that all eligible children receive the vaccine, including those already covered under routine EPI immunisation. He said the government aims to reach at least 95 per cent coverage and is using a special monitoring app to identify unvaccinated children.

Public awareness campaigns are also being expanded through posters, leaflets, video messages, talk shows and media outreach.

The DGHS said with support from the UNICEF, Bangladesh is procuring around 950 million doses of 10 essential life-saving vaccines. Large shipments of BCG, polio, measles-rubella, IPV, pentavalent and Td vaccines have already arrived in the country.

Senior health officials, including Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr. S. M. Ziauddin Haider, attended the briefing.