Bangladesh Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain has said, the government inherited a complete shortage of measles vaccines, stating that there was not a single dose available when the BNP-led administration assumed office, as the country grapples with a severe outbreak.
The remarks come amid growing criticism over the government’s handling of the outbreak, which has reportedly claimed the lives of 459 children since mid-March and raised concerns over the collapse of Bangladesh’s immunisation system.
Speaking at a public awareness programme on measles and dengue in Dhaka, the Minister said the crisis was the result of no nationwide measles immunisation campaigns for over six years and prolonged vaccine shortages in the following years. He said the last measles vaccination drive was held in December 2020 and that no vaccinations were carried out until the programme resumed in 2026.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services, six more children died in the last 24 hours, while over 1,500 new suspected and confirmed cases were reported. Officials say tens of thousands of children have been affected since mid-March, with many requiring hospitalisation.
