Emergency Vaccination Drive Launched Amid Measles Outbreak in Bangladesh

Bangladesh initiated an emergency measles vaccination campaign following a surge in cases that has claimed over 100 lives, predominantly among children, in a single month. This may mark the deadliest measles wave in the nation’s recent history.

According to health ministry data, more than 7,500 suspected cases have been reported since March 15th, with over 900 confirmed. This is a stark rise from the 125 cases recorded in 2025 across the entire year, as noted by local media.

“Vaccines are foundational to child survival,” stated Rana Flowers, Unicef’s representative in Bangladesh, highlighting the critical risk posed by the current outbreak to thousands of children, particularly the youngest and most vulnerable.

While Bangladesh has consistently vaccinated children against measles, the recent surge has exposed vulnerabilities in the program. Routine vaccinations begin at nine months, yet one-third of those affected were under this age, according to Shahriar Sajjad, deputy director of the Health Department.

Bangladesh typically runs special measles campaigns every four years, but these have been postponed since 2020 due to the pandemic and subsequent political challenges. The country faced major protests in 2024 that ousted leader Sheikh Hasina, leading to an interim government and delayed elections until February this year.

Sajjad mentioned that the planned April campaign did not materialize, citing procurement issues as a cause of vaccine shortages, as reported by the Daily Star. While some attribute the shortages to the previous interim government, Unicef notes that measles resurgences often result from accumulated gaps rather than isolated factors.

Joining forces with international partners like Unicef and the World Health Organization, Bangladesh is now targeting over 1.2 million children aged six months to five years in 30 upazilas. The focus is on those missing routine immunizations and those at higher risk of severe complications.

Additionally, health authorities are releasing infographics to educate the public on measles recognition and prevention. The WHO reports that in 2024, an estimated 95,000 global deaths were linked to measles, mostly children under five. Despite a significant decline in cases worldwide—from 38 million in 2000 to 11 million in 2024—the organization warns of a resurgence as vaccination rates drop.

Recent data from The Lancet indicates that 2024 and 2025 saw the highest number of measles outbreaks in over two decades. This trend has been observed in several Asian and African countries, where cases have increased.