Health minister says no nationwide Vitamin A campaign was held after early 2025

He says the country is facing a severe shortage of Vitamin A capsules as well

Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain has said Bangladesh not only failed to sustain measles vaccination efforts under the previous administration, but also halted nationwide Vitamin A supplementation campaigns for children.

Speaking at an event organised by the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) on Sunday, the minister said the country was now facing a severe shortage of Vitamin A capsules, with only a “small quantity” left in stock.

“Vitamin A campaigns are supposed to be held twice every year,” he said. “One campaign took place in the first half of last year. After that, no campaign was held, and there is no Vitamin A.”

Bangladesh has been battling a measles outbreak since February.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 459 children have died with measles or measles-like symptoms across the country over the past 63 days since Mar 15.

The minister said more than 10 million Vitamin A capsules were expected to arrive within the next five to seven days through UNICEF.

“We have already made the payment. I requested them again four days ago to expedite the measles vaccines,” he said.

“Once the capsules arrive, we will begin distributing Vitamin A to children in full swing.”

Addressing doctors and journalists, Sakhawat warned that malnutrition was driving severe complications among infected children.

“Most children suffering from measles are progressing to pneumonia because of nutritional deficiencies,” he said, stressing the importance of breastfeeding and maternal nutrition.

Referring to Bangladesh’s dependence on imported vaccines, the minister said: “If foreign suppliers stop today, we cannot administer a single vaccine.”

He added that the government was moving ahead with plans to establish a vaccine production unit in Munshiganj to reduce reliance on foreign manufacturers within the next few years.