Measles vaccine drive from Sunday, says health minister

9 million doses of the measles vaccine have been procured, the health minister says

Bangladesh is launching a measles vaccination programme from next Sunday, says Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain.

He also said that leave for all health workers at the field level have been cancelled from Thursday for the programme.

In a briefing at the Secretariat on Wednesday, the minister said: "We will launch the vaccination campaign… the emergency vaccination campaign from next Sunday and we have withdrawn the leave of the field level staff from tomorrow (Thursday). There will be no leave.

"All those who will administer the vaccine will be under the supervision of local officers. These officers will be in the field and at work."

The minister also highlighted in the briefing that 9 million doses of the measles vaccine have been procured. He said that syringes will be arranged between Wednesday and Thursday and vaccines will be sent to every Upazila, including those most affected.