Measles special vaccination program will start from coming 26 September: Health Minister

 Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain Bokul has said that, almost measles infected all children in the country are unvaccinated. Enlightening  this backdrop. the government is going to start measles special vaccination program from coming September 2026 to bring the excluded  children under the program. Under Intensified  MR Catch-up Vaccination program it will be continued until October 31.He informed it on Sunday at the Ministry concerned conference room while briefing with the Journalists. 

He further said that, under this program children aged between 6 months to 5 years who have not been vaccinated will be identified and vaccinated. Moreover new children who are 6 months aged will also be brought under the program.  Now measles infected children have been suffering from pneumonia and other physical complication due to malnutrition, he added and informed again that it usually takes three to four weeks to be produced antibodies in the body having vaccination.

Minister however elaborately came up and said again about the dengue and measles situation,  the government has taken  all types of preparations for the treatment of both diseases and there is no shortage of saline. On the other hand mobile hospitals have also been kept ready to serve dengue patients in emergency situation, In addition, most of the dengue treatment can be provided at the upazila level, he added. But many patients are being admitted in the hospitals having reached tertiary level, as a result additional pressure is  being made on these hospitals, Sakhawat added again.

It is mentioned that, under the special management of the government as well as with the support of UNICEF , about 4.3 million doses of MR vaccine arrived in the country on September 10 with a view to implement this special vaccination program. Currently there is a total stock of 5.8 million doses of vaccine in the country. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr. SM Ziauddin Haider, Health Services Division Secretary Dr. ANM Bazlur Rashid, DG Health Dr. Prabhat  Chandra Biswas were also present at the event.