Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain informed Parliament on Wednesday that any concerns regarding changes in vaccine procurement procedures and their impact on immunisation activities will be reviewed through technical assessments and relevant evidence.
The minister warned that legal action would be taken if any negligence is identified in the process. He made these remarks while responding to a query from BNP lawmaker Musammat Shammi Akther of the reserved women’s seat-22.
He assured the House that vaccine procurement, storage, and distribution under the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) are conducted in strict adherence to international standards and government regulations.
The government has developed a comprehensive strategy to ensure every child is covered by vaccination to build a robust immunity shield against measles and other preventable diseases.
Addressing the current measles outbreak, Sakhawat identified vaccine refusal, incomplete immunisation, lack of public awareness, and various geographical and social barriers as primary contributors to the spread of the disease.
He emphasised that responsibility for outbreaks and related deaths would be determined through proper investigations. “If negligence, dereliction of duty or failure to perform responsibilities is found on the part of any official, disciplinary and administrative actions will be taken in accordance with existing laws and regulations,” he added.
To prevent future outbreaks, the government has initiated measures to ensure an uninterrupted vaccine supply, strengthen stock management, and expand disease surveillance. Coordination with national and international partners is also being enhanced.
The minister announced that special vaccination campaigns, including Supplementary Immunisation Activities (SIA) and crash programmes, will continue nationwide. A primary focus will be placed on identifying and vaccinating “zero-dose” children. Children in high-risk areas will receive an additional dose of Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine, regardless of their previous vaccination status, to ensure maximum protection.
Special attention is being directed towards densely populated and high-risk zones, including Dhaka North and South City Corporations and Cox’s Bazar, which houses large numbers of displaced people. Intensive neighbourhood-based activities based on detailed micro-planning are scheduled for these areas in the coming months.
To modernise the immunisation framework, the government is expanding the E-Tracker System to ensure 100 per cent online registration of vaccination records. Efforts are also underway to modernise the cold chain system to maintain vaccine quality in remote regions.
The government is reinforcing surveillance and rapid response mechanisms, including the formation of Community-Based Surveillance (CBS) teams to identify suspected cases at the field level.
The minister noted that the government plans to ensure adequate supplies of testing kits and expand specialised treatment, such as Bubble CPAP support for children with measles-related pneumonia, up to the upazila level. Treatment services, the provision of Vitamin A capsules, and complication prevention measures are also being strengthened.
Sakhawat mentioned public awareness campaigns would be intensified through mass media and community announcements to combat vaccine hesitancy, with specific outreach targeting working parents and disadvantaged communities.
