Bangladesh aims to vaccinate 1.1 million children on first day of emergency measles drive

Government targets 17 million children in three-week campaign

The government has set a target to vaccinate around 1.1 million children against measles across Bangladesh on the first day of a nationwide campaign starting Monday.

A total of 17 million children are expected to receive the vaccine over the three-week programme.

The campaign was originally scheduled to begin on May 3, but was brought forward by 13 days to Apr 20 “considering the situation”.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, more than 200 children have died from measles and measles-like symptoms since Mar 15.

During the same period, at least 22,000 children have been hospitalised with measles or similar symptoms.

Officials from the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) said over 17 million children will be vaccinated over 11 working days during the campaign.

Of them, 1.1 million children are expected to receive the vaccine on the first day.

Vaccination will be carried out through 282,510 centres nationwide, including at ward level.

Of these, around 130,000 are temporary centres.

EPI Assistant Director Hasanul Mahmud told bdnews24.com, “It is not possible to vaccinate everyone in a single day. This requires planning.

"The programme can begin after collecting field-level data.”