Under the ongoing measles-rubella immunization campaign, 19,771,720 children across the country have been vaccinated over the past five months, which is about 10 percent higher than the initial target.

Relevant officials of the Ministry of Health stated that when a measles outbreak emerged in the country in late March of this year, the government promptly launched an emergency vaccination campaign in the first phase on April 5 across 30 upazilas in 18 districts.

In the second phase, starting April 12, the campaign rolled out in four major city corporations (Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Barishal, and Mymensingh), and finally, in the third phase starting April 20, a nationwide simultaneous measles-rubella vaccination campaign began, which remains ongoing.

However, as measles outbreaks still persist in the country, the government is set to launch another major nationwide mass vaccination campaign starting September 26 to prevent measles.

The Ministry of Health stated that initially, the target under this program was to vaccinate approximately 18 million children nationwide.

Due to various proactive measures taken by the government, the child vaccination rate exceeded expectations, reaching 109.8 percent.

An analysis of data from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) shows that the government's target was to administer measles-rubella vaccines to 18,015,064 children. However, as of September 13, it was found that 19,771,720 children had been vaccinated nationwide.

Data obtained from the integrated control center for measles-rubella vaccines at the DGHS reveals that 1,110,698 children in Barishal Division, 4,841,924 in Chattogram Division, 4,919,913 in Dhaka Division, 1,695,779 in Khulna Division, 1,530,916 in Mymensingh Division, 2,213,197 in Rajshahi Division, 2,073,488 in Rangpur Division, and 1,385,805 in Sylhet Division have been vaccinated against measles-rubella.

Among these, within city corporation areas, the numbers of children vaccinated include 44,119 in Barishal City Corporation, 336,870 in Chattogram City Corporation, 48,643 in Cumilla City Corporation, 557,688 in Dhaka North City Corporation, 418,972 in Dhaka South City Corporation, 206,927 in Gazipur City Corporation, 83,697 in Narayanganj City Corporation, 96,792 in Khulna City Corporation, 62,305 in Mymensingh City Corporation, 63,059 in Rajshahi City Corporation, 82,253 in Rangpur City Corporation, and 72,349 in Sylhet City Corporation.

When asked about this, Prof. Dr. Md. Zahid Rayhan, Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services, said that vaccinating children is an ongoing process.

However, the announcement of a nationwide massive measles vaccination campaign starting September 26 represents an intensified effort by the government.

He stated that the main objective of this program is to ensure that not a single child is left unvaccinated.