-File photo

DHAKA, April 30, 2026 (BSS) - As part of ongoing nationwide campaign, the government has so far administered measles-rubella vaccines to 12,162,906 children across the country to tackle measles outbreak. 

The target of vaccination is to immunize approximately 1.80 crore children nationwide under this programme.

According to data from the integrated control centre for measles-rubella vaccination under the Directorate General of Health Services, a total of 711,073 children in Barishal Division, 2,496,908 in Chattogram Division, 3,208,694 in Dhaka Division, 1,099,612 in Khulna Division, 923,156 in Mymensingh Division, 1,489,039 in Rajshahi Division, 1,355,234 in Rangpur Division, and 879,190 in Sylhet Division have received the vaccine.

Under city corporation areas, 35,876 children received vaccine in Barishal City Corporation, 176,995 in Chattogram City Corporation, 45,646 in Cumilla City Corporation, 437,705 in Dhaka North City Corporation, 375,683 in Dhaka South City Corporation, 103,406 in Gazipur City Corporation, 65,784 in Narayanganj City Corporation, 68,429 in Khulna City Corporation, 44,997 in Mymensingh City Corporation, 43,213 in Rajshahi City Corporation, 53,971 in Rangpur City Corporation, and 44,097 in Sylhet City Corporation.

The government launched the measles-rubella vaccination campaign in phases. The first phase of the campaign was launched on April 5 in 30 upazilas across 18 districts, which has already been completed.

In the second phase, vaccination activities began simultaneously on April 12 in four key city corporations - Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Barishal, and Mymensingh. The third phase started nationwide on April 20. 

The campaign is being conducted from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm every day except weekly and public holidays. All children aged between 6 and 59 months are being vaccinated under this programme.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain said that once the vaccines were available, the government did not wait for the scheduled timeline and began administering doses from April 20.

About the progress of measles vaccination, Sakhawat said, "We have covered 61 percent of the target. One hundred percent of children will be brought under measles vaccination coverage within the next week.”

He added that measles cases have already declined in many areas due to timely government intervention and expressed optimism that the situation will soon come under control.

Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Prof. Provat Chandra Biswas said that vaccination activities have been intensified to control measles outbreak. As of April 29, over 61 percent of the targeted children have received the measles-rubella vaccine. He emphasized that no child will be left out of the programme and noted that infections have already started to decline in areas where full coverage has been achieved.

Assistant Director of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Hasanul Mahmud said that a total of 18 million children will be vaccinated under this initiative. The special campaign will continue until May 20 in city corporation areas and until May 12 in other parts of the country.

Public health experts believe that vaccination is highly effective in preventing measles. They noted that generally outbreaks begin to decline within two to three weeks of starting a campaign. If the vaccination programme is properly implemented, it is expected that the outbreak will subside.

They expressed satisfaction about the government measures to combat the epidemic.