The government will launch a nationwide measles vaccination campaign from May 3 amid a rising outbreak of the disease, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said on Sunday.
The minister said the programme would initially begin in two city corporations—Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation—as well as in the districts of Mymensingh and Barisal before being expanded nationwide in phases.
He made the remarks while inaugurating a special measles-rubella vaccination campaign in selected upazilas across 18 districts at an event in Nawabganj. He said that vaccination will also be given in phases in the remaining districts and upazilas from May 3 so that children are not at risk.
The minister also said that the current measles outbreak in the country cannot be taken lightly. Measles has now reached a stage that is no less worrying than the Corona pandemic. According to the Health Department sources, the vaccination program has been launched on an emergency basis due to the rapid increase in measles infections among children. The government plans to vaccinate all targeted children within the stipulated time frame.
