The Health and Family Welfare Minister has attributed the current measles crisis in the country to prolonged vaccination program failures under previous administrations, telling lawmakers that critical immunization campaigns were neglected for over five years.

Md Sardar Sakhawat Husain addressed Parliament on Monday in response to concerns raised by Jatiya Nagorik Party representative Akhter Hossen regarding the escalating outbreak that has reportedly caused more than 115 suspected deaths within a three week period, including 20 confirmed fatalities.

The minister explained that country`s most recent specialized measles rubella vaccination drive occurred in December 2020, despite protocols requiring such campaigns every four years. This gap of five and a half years has left substantial numbers of children, including newborns, vulnerable to infection.

Husain clarified previous remarks made to media on March 29 in which he stated that measles vaccination had been suspended for eight years, comments that generated anxiety among frontline healthcare workers.

The NCP lawmaker highlighted that thousands of children have contracted the disease while healthcare infrastructure remains inadequate, particularly noting shortages of isolation wards, intensive care units and neonatal intensive care units at district and sub district facilities, especially throughout the Rajshahi region.

Hossen raised additional concerns about infection patterns, noting that while Bangladesh typically administers measles vaccination beginning at nine months, children as young as six months are now contracting the virus, raising questions about surveillance and diagnostic capabilities.

The health minister responded by outlining emergency measures already underway. Beginning April 5 under directives from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, urgent vaccination operations commenced across 30 high risk sub districts spanning 18 districts.

The initial campaign phase targets children between 6 and 59 months old, aiming to immunize 1.2 million children. First day results showed 73,000 children vaccinated against a target of 76,000 across the 30 sub districts, achieving 96 percent coverage.

Expansion plans will extend the program to Dhaka, Mymensingh and Barishal city corporations from April 12, with nationwide implementation scheduled to begin May 3. Vitamin A supplementation is being administered concurrently with vaccinations.

Addressing hospital preparedness concerns, Husain stated that isolation wards have been established in government hospitals throughout the country. Rajshahi specifically is preparing an additional 250 isolation beds while intensive care and ventilation capabilities are being enhanced. A cost effective oxygen delivery system developed by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh is being deployed.

The minister confirmed emergency vaccine procurement procedures are underway and that the World Bank has committed support including both loans and grants to combat the outbreak.

During supplementary questioning, Hossen alleged continued operational mismanagement at ground level, asserting that despite budget allocations, patients are not receiving adequate isolation or intensive care support.

He noted approximately 25 percent of health sector funding remains unspent, including 11,000 crore taka during the 2024-25 fiscal year.

Husain replied that 604 crore taka in unused funds from the Covid-19 response period is being redirected toward procuring additional measles vaccines through Unicef.

All leave for healthcare workers has been cancelled to strengthen field supervision, while coordination with development partners including the World Bank and Unicef has been intensified.