Nation paying price for previous govts’ measles vaccine negligence: Health Minister

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Saturday said that the nation has had to pay the price for the previous governments’ negligence regarding the measles vaccine.

“Many children had died due to negligence and delays in measles vaccination programmes over four years during the tenure of the ousted Awami League government and the subsequent interim government,” he said.

After assuming office, the present government has taken swift measures and implemented a large-scale nationwide vaccination programme.

Sakhawat made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the nationwide special measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign-2026 at the T&T playground at Korail in the city’s Banani area this morning.

He said the nation has had to pay the price for the previous governments’ negligence, including the ineffective operation of the routine immunisation programme from December 2020 to April 2026 and prolonged delays in importing measles vaccines from abroad on the pretext of the open tender system.

“The tragic consequence was that many mothers lost their children,” he added.

Expressing profound sorrow and sympathy for the affected families, the minister said out of about 1.85 crore children, around 1,000 children died of measles.

“Every child’s death is extremely painful for the government and, at the same time, a matter of shame,” he said.

About the special vaccination campaign which began today, Sakhawat said after assuming office, the government launched the vaccination programme in three phases from April 5, while the nationwide campaign was intensified from April 20.

“So far, around 1.85 crore children have been vaccinated under the campaign, and we have set a target of bringing another 34 lakh children who were missed by the campaign under vaccination coverage (under the special vaccination campaign),” he said.

The minister said the special vaccination programme for children aged six to 59 months will continue until October 31.

“Besides, 10 lakh vaccine doses have been kept in reserve for use in emergencies, while vaccination with these doses will continue under the routine immunisation programme,” he added.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Md Safiqul Islam Khan chaired the inaugural session of the special vaccination campaign.

Health Services Division Secretary Dr ANM Bazlur Rashid, Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Professor Dr Md Zahid Raihan, Representative of Bangladesh UNICEF Gillian Mellsop and Deputy WHO Representative to Bangladesh Dr Rajesh Narwal attended the programme as the guests of honour.