A total of 17,268,908 children across the country have so far received the measles-rubella vaccine under the nationwide immunization programme aimed at controlling the measles outbreak.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 96 percent of the target to vaccinate 18 million children has already been achieved.
The DGHS said 1,008,301 children in Barishal Division, 3,977,772 in Chattogram Division, 4,324,870 in Dhaka Division, 1,533,546 in Khulna Division, 1,294,015 in Mymensingh Division, 2,020,373 in Rajshahi Division, 1,862,196 in Rangpur Division and 1,247,835 in Sylhet Division have received the vaccine.
In city corporation areas, 39,053 children in Barishal City Corporation, 253,662 in Chattogram City Corporation, 47,612 in Cumilla City Corporation, 490,548 in Dhaka North City Corporation, 396,949 in Dhaka South City Corporation, 180,861 in Gazipur City Corporation, 77,088 in Narayanganj City Corporation, 82,897 in Khulna City Corporation, 53,081 in Mymensingh City Corporation, 53,687 in Rajshahi City Corporation, 75,598 in Rangpur City Corporation and 58,029 in Sylhet City Corporation have taken the vaccine.
The government launched the first phase of the vaccination programme on April 5 in 18 districts across 30 upazilas. The programme in those areas has already been completed and measles cases have started to decline there, according to the DGHS.
DGHS Director General Professor Dr. Pravath Chandra Biswas said measles cases have already started to decrease in areas where 100 percent vaccination coverage has been achieved.
The second phase of the programme began on April 12 in four city corporations — Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Barishal and Mymensingh — and the campaign is still continuing there.
The third phase of the nationwide measles-rubella vaccination campaign started on April 20 across the country.
The campaign is being conducted from 8am to 3pm on working days except weekly and government holidays. The special nationwide campaign will continue until May 20 in city corporation areas and until May 12 in other parts of the country.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Sakhawat Husain said almost all children in the country would come under measles vaccination coverage within the next few days.
He said full vaccination coverage has already been achieved in many areas and measles has come under control there.
The minister added that due to quick government action, the spread of measles could be contained and the situation is expected to improve soon. He also said the vaccination drive started immediately after the government received the vaccines.
Public health experts said measles vaccination is highly effective and outbreaks usually begin to decline within two to three weeks after a campaign starts.
They said the outbreak could be eliminated if the vaccination programme is implemented properly and added that the government is taking all necessary steps to handle the situation.