Bangladesh Starts Emergency Measles Vaccinations After Deadly Outbreak
Bangladesh is mounting a large emergency immunization campaign as a worsening measles outbreak exposes major vaccination gaps.
Bangladesh has begun an emergency measles-rubella vaccination drive after a rapidly worsening outbreak killed more than 100 children in less than a month.
Authorities, working with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Gavi vaccine alliance, started the campaign in the highest-risk districts and plan to expand it nationwide in stages.
Public health experts warn that the outbreak reflects serious immunity gaps, especially among children who never received routine doses and infants who are still too young for the standard schedule.
The response is now focused not only on stopping immediate transmission, but also on rebuilding confidence and consistency in the country's broader immunization system.