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DHAKA, April 19, 2026 (BSS) – The government has vaccinated a total of 19,53,843 children against measles and rubella in two phases across the country to tackle the ongoing outbreak, while a third phase of the nationwide immunisation campaign will begin tomorrow.

The countrywide vaccination drive is set to start on April 20 and will continue for the next four weeks, excluding Fridays and public holidays, with vaccines administered at centres from 8:00am to 3:00pm, to expand coverage to all eligible children aged between six and 59 months across the country.

Earlier, in response to the rising incidence of measles, the government on April 5 launched the first phase of a special measles-rubella vaccination campaign at 30 upazilas in 18 high-risk districts.

During the period from April 5 to April 19, a total of 1,487,192 children were vaccinated in those upazilas, achieving 100 per cent of the target coverage.

Under the first phase, 116,863 children were vaccinated in Barishal division, 166,478 in Chattogram, 600,134 in Dhaka, 74,585 in Khulna, 129,389 in Mymensingh and 399,743 in Rajshahi division. The government had set a target to vaccinate 2,180,105 children in these 30 upazilas, according to data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

In the second phase, launched on April 12, the government carried out simultaneous vaccination in four major city corporations—Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Barishal and Mymensingh.

From April 12 to April 19, a total of 466,651 children received measles-rubella vaccines in the city corporations. Of them, 16,044 were vaccinated in Barishal City Corporation, 244,810 in Dhaka North, 188,902 in Dhaka South and 16,895 in Mymensingh City Corporation.

The government had set a target to vaccinate 976,838 children in the four city corporations and has so far achieved 93 per cent coverage.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said the measles situation has already improved due to timely government intervention.

“There is no shortage of vaccines. We have sufficient stock to continue vaccination activities smoothly until June,” he said.

Public health experts said measles vaccines are highly effective and outbreaks usually decline within two to three weeks of campaign rollout if properly implemented.

According to health authorities, the nationwide campaign will cover all children aged between six and 59 months with a single dose of the measles-rubella vaccine, regardless of their previous vaccination status.

Vaccination will be carried out at nursery schools, kindergartens, ibtedayi institutions, maktabs, orphanages and child care centres for children under five years of age. Children who are not enrolled in educational institutions will receive vaccines at their nearest routine immunisation centres.

During the campaign, permanent vaccination centres will be set up at upazila health complexes, municipalities and city corporation hospitals, and in each ward of city corporations. Routine immunisation services will also continue alongside the campaign.

Additional centres will be arranged for high-risk and hard-to-reach children, including those accompanying mothers at markets, factories and rice mills, as well as street children, slum children, children from nomadic communities, those staying with mothers in hospitals and prisons. These centres will provide vaccinations at convenient times, including in the afternoon or evening.

According to official data, as of April 19, a total of 3,443 confirmed measles cases and 23,606 suspected cases have been reported. During this period, 12,396 patients have recovered and returned home from hospitals.

So far, 36 deaths from confirmed measles and 181 from suspected cases have been recorded. The highest number of suspected infections has been reported in Dhaka division, with 10,343 cases.