Bangladesh to launch nationwide measles vaccination campaign

Bangladesh is launching a nationwide special measles vaccination campaign on 26 September to target 3.4 million children aged 6 to 59 months. Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain announced that the campaign, which runs until 31 October, aims to reach children who missed previous immunizations. The health department currently holds 5.2 million vaccine doses to support the drive.

The campaign follows a severe measles outbreak that has resulted in 1,057 total fatalities in 2026, including 956 suspected and 101 confirmed deaths. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) reported 179,814 suspected cases and 20,562 laboratory-confirmed cases. Since mid-March, over 158,000 patients have been hospitalized with measles-like symptoms.

The Global Centre for Democratic Governance (GCDG) described the outbreak as one of the country’s worst recent public health crises. The organization attributed the surge to disruptions in vaccine supply and health programs during 2024-2025, alongside administrative delays in procurement and missed routine vaccinations.