PM’s Advisor Zahed vows to complete measles vaccination before Eid-ul-Azha

An emergency measles-rubella vaccination drive is under way in 30 hotspots

The government has pledged to complete the nationwide measles vaccination campaign for children before Eid-ul-Azha, with a phased rollout already under way in 30 high-risk areas.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister’s Advisor Zahed Ur Rahman said the vaccination will be “gradually expanded” across the country, based on the “situation and field-level preparedness”.

He added that the government is keen to complete the drive by May 21.

Calling the measles outbreak a "hot issue" in the health ministry, he said they had to deal with a vaccine crisis despite it originating during the previous government.

“Since taking office, we’ve been focused on curbing [the outbreak]."

Vaccinations will start in the two city corporations of Dhaka alongside Mymensingh and Barishal from Apr 12, he said.

The rest of the country will simultaneously come under the vaccination coverage from May 3, Zahed added.

Highlighting government measures to contain the crisis including the cancellation of health workers' leave, he said the outbreak did not result from their negligence.

“But it is very tragic that our children are dying. An expression of regret from the government is not enough,” he said.

Initiatives have been taken to follow the public-private partnership model to expand health services, which will be visible soon, said Zahed, who is also a doctor.

According to him, the government has started hiring 100,000 health workers, including 80,000 women.

The outbreak has claimed 11 more lives across Bangladesh over the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 149 since mid-March.