17.26m children receive measles vaccine, 96% of target achieved: Officials

So far 17,268,908 children in the country have received the measles-rubella vaccine.

96% of the target to vaccinate 18m children under the ongoing nationwide immunization programme to control the measles outbreak has been achieved.

According to Directorate General of Health Services, 1,008,301 children in Barishal division, 3,977,772 in Chattogram division, 4,324,870 in Dhaka division, 1,533,546 in Khulna division, 1,294,015 in Mymensingh division, 2,020,373 in Rajshahi division, 1,862,196 in Rangpur division, and 1,247,835 in Sylhet division have received the measles-rubella vaccine.

In the city areas 39,053 children in Barishal City Corporation, 253,662 in Chattogram City Corporation, 47,612 in Cumilla City Corporation, 490,548 in Dhaka North City Corporation, 396,949 in Dhaka South City Corporation, 180,861 in Gazipur City Corporation, 77,088 in Narayanganj City Corporation, 82,897 in Khulna City Corporation, 53,081 in Mymensingh City Corporation, 53,687 in Rajshahi City Corporation, 75,598 in Rangpur City Corporation, and 58,029 in Sylhet City Corporation have taken the measles-rubella vaccine.

The government launched the first phase of the vaccination programme on 5 April in 18 districts across 30 upazilas.
The programme in these 30 upazilas has already been completed, and measles cases have started to decline in those areas, according to the DGHS. 

DGHS director general Professor Dr. Pravath Chandra Biswas told BSS that the number of measles cases has already started to decline in the areas where 100% vaccination has been achieved.
In the second phase, from 12 April, vaccination began simultaneously in four important city corporations- Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Barishal, and Mymensingh- and is still ongoing. 

In the third phase, from 20 April, the measles-rubella vaccination campaign started nationwide. 

The campaign is being conducted from 8AM to 3PM on working days, excluding weekly and government holidays. This nationwide special campaign will continue until 20 May in city corporation areas and until 12 May in other parts of the country.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Sakhawat Husain said within the next few days, almost all children will come under measles vaccination coverage. 

He added that in many areas, full coverage has already been achieved, and in those areas measles has come under control. 

He stated that due to timely and rapid government action, the spread of measles in the country could be possible to contain, and the situation is expected to come under control soon. 

He also said that as soon as the government received the measles vaccine, the vaccination drive began without any delay.

Public health experts believe that measles vaccination is highly effective. They noted that outbreaks generally begin to decline within two to three weeks after the start of a campaign. 

If the vaccination programme is properly implemented, the outbreak is expected to be eliminated. They also said that the government is carrying out all necessary measures to deal with the situation.