Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
Unicef has said Bangladesh faced a prolonged shortage of routine measles vaccines last year despite repeated warnings, noting that delays in supply worsened the situation even after at least 10 alerts were issued to the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, since 2024.
The remarks were made at a press conference titled “Press Conference on Measles Outbreak Situation and Ongoing Response Efforts” addressed by Unicef Bangladesh representative Rana Flowers in Dhaka on Tuesday.
According to Unicef, Bangladesh received 1.78 crore doses of measles vaccines between August and November 2025, only about one-third of the country’s annual requirement of nearly 7 crore doses, leading to prolonged disruption in routine immunisation.
Unicef said it raised concerns in at least 10 meetings with the government since 2024 and also sent five to six formal letters, informing both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The prolonged disruption in routine immunisation left many children without vaccination coverage, increasing the risk of measles transmission and contributing to a large-scale outbreak,” the agency said.
It clarified that the shortage was not due to a lack of funds but delays in procurement processes that hindered timely vaccine acquisition.
However, the situation has recently improved, with measles vaccines arriving again in May, Flowers said, adding that the government and development partners are now focusing on accelerating vaccination, reaching high-risk children and strengthening surveillance.