Nationwide measles-rubella vaccination drive begins tomorrow
The government will launch a nationwide emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign from tomorrow amid efforts to curb a sharp rise in measles cases and deaths.
Around 1.8 crore children aged between six months and under five years are expected to be vaccinated during the drive, Hasanul Mahmud, assistant director of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, told The Daily Star today.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain will inaugurate the campaign at Little Angel Seminary at Zinda Park in Narayanganj’s Rupganj upazila at 8:15am, according to the health ministry.
Amid the surge in measles cases and deaths, the government began an emergency vaccination campaign in 30 high-burden upazilas across 18 districts on April 5.
The drive was later expanded to four city corporations -- Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Mymensingh and Barishal -- from April 12.
Including children from these 30 upazilas and the four city corporations, a total of around 1.8 crore children are expected to be vaccinated, he added.
The campaign launched on April 5 will continue until April 25, while the one that began on April 12 will end on May 12, he said.
The nationwide campaign starting tomorrow will run until May 20 in city corporation areas and until May 12 in other parts of the country, Mahmud said.
He added that vaccines will be administered from all fixed and outreach centres from 8:00am.
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