AKIPRESS.COM - Bangladesh has initiated an urgent measles vaccination drive following a rapid outbreak that claimed over 100 lives, primarily children, within just three weeks.

Health Ministry data reveals more than 7,500 cases since mid-March 2026, a staggering increase compared to only 125 cases in all of 2025. Health officials noted that approximately one-third of those infected are infants under nine months old who are not yet eligible for routine immunization.

UNICEF attributed the crisis to a six-year hiatus in supplemental vaccination campaigns, citing disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and recent political instability.

The immunization gap widened following the 2024 ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the subsequent tenure of an interim government, which oversaw a restructured procurement system that led to vaccine shortages. Although a new government was elected in February 2026, the accumulated immunity gaps have left the population of 170 million vulnerable.

UNICEF warned that while Bangladesh historically maintains high immunization rates, even minor systemic disruptions can lead to significant outbreaks, necessitating this immediate large-scale intervention to protect young children.