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Emergency vaccination drive launched amid rising deaths
Bangladesh has initiated an urgent immunization campaign after a measles outbreak killed more than 100 people, primarily young children, in what health officials describe as the country's deadliest wave of the disease in recent memory.
Surge in cases exposes immunization gaps
Since March 15, Bangladesh has recorded over 7,500 suspected measles cases, with more than 900 confirmed, according to health ministry data. The figures mark a dramatic rise from 2025, when only 125 cases were reported throughout the entire year.
While the country has long included measles vaccines in its routine childhood immunization program, the current outbreak has revealed critical weaknesses. Rana Flowers, UNICEF's representative in Bangladesh, warned in a statement that the surge was "putting thousands of children, especially the youngest and most vulnerable, at serious risk."
Infants under nine months at heightened risk
Routine measles vaccines in Bangladesh are administered to children starting at nine months old. However, Shahriar Sajjad, deputy director of the Health Department, told BBC Bangla that about one-third of those infected in the recent outbreak were younger than nine months-too young to receive the vaccine.
"The infections among these infants are especially alarming," Flowers said, emphasizing the urgency of closing immunity gaps.
Disruptions derail vaccination efforts
Bangladesh typically conducts special measles vaccination campaigns every four years, but none have taken place since 2020. Sajjad cited the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent "political situation" as reasons for the delay.
In 2024, mass anti-government protests led to the ousting of long-time leader Sheikh Hasina, followed by an interim government. A new administration was elected only in February this year. A planned vaccination campaign for April 2026 was canceled, with Sajjad attributing the failure to procurement issues and vaccine shortages.
The Daily Star reported that many Bangladeshis blame the interim government for mismanaging the new vaccine procurement system. However, UNICEF noted that measles resurgences "are typically the result of accumulated gaps rather than a single factor."
"Bangladesh has a strong history of high immunization coverage, but even small disruptions can lead to the gradual accumulation of immunity gaps over time."
UNICEF statement
Emergency response targets 1.2 million children
In collaboration with UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), Bangladesh launched an emergency vaccination campaign on Sunday. The drive will cover 30 upazilas (sub-districts) and aims to immunize over 1.2 million children aged six months to five years against measles and rubella, a milder but related disease.
Priority will be given to children who missed routine vaccinations, particularly in Dhaka, the densely populated capital, and Cox's Bazar, home to crowded Rohingya refugee camps. Health authorities are also distributing infographics to educate the public on identifying and preventing measles.
Global measles resurgence raises alarms
Measles, a highly contagious airborne disease, can cause severe complications and death. In 2024, the WHO estimated that measles killed 95,000 people worldwide, most of them children under five. The disease is preventable through vaccination, but herd immunity requires at least 95% of the population to be immunized.
Global measles cases have declined sharply over the past two decades, from 38 million in 2000 to 11 million in 2024. However, the WHO has warned of a resurgence in regions where vaccination rates have fallen. In 2024 and 2025, the world experienced the highest number of measles outbreaks in over 20 years, according to The Lancet.
Outbreaks have been reported in parts of Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, with vaccine skepticism growing in some countries post-pandemic. In February 2026, a measles outbreak in north London prompted UK health authorities to urge parents to vaccinate their children.
Symptoms and prevention
Common measles symptoms include:
- High fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- Rash appearing 3-5 days after initial symptoms
Health experts stress that vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent the disease and its complications.
