In the wake of the sudden increase in the number of measles infections in the capital, the government has taken initiative to ensure rapid supply of vaccines. Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain said the supply of measles vaccines could start in the country from the first week of April.
Responding to a question from reporters after a meeting with the US ambassador in the conference room of the health ministry at the secretariat on Monday, he said urgent steps have been taken to deal with the situation and the vaccination procurement process is at the final stage.
With the increase in the number of infections, the medical system has also been expanded rapidly. The ICU unit, which was closed after the death of a child in the capital’s Mohakhali, was opened within eighteen hours. At the same time, separate wards, isolation facilities and ventilators have been increased for children in different hospitals. New ventilators have also been provided in Manikganj and Rajshahi and the process of adding twenty more ventilators is underway.
He said that despite regular vaccination activities going on, there has been no large-scale measles vaccination program since 2018. As a result, the rate of infection is higher among children who were out of the vaccine or later born.
The government has already paid the money to the international agency UNICEF. The supply is expected to start once the necessary administrative approvals are completed.
The health minister urged people not to panic and be careful, saying it is now most important to ensure the vaccination of children. The government is working to control the situation.
Secretary of Health Md. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury said the nationwide vaccination programme will be strengthened if the supply of vaccines starts. The programme is planned to be implemented, especially by giving priority to children from six months to five years old.