The government is set to launch a special measles vaccination campaign outside the routine immunisation programme amid a rise in infections across the country.
The month-long drive, starting in the first week of June, aims to vaccinate approximately 2 crore children aged between 6 months and 10 years, officials said on Monday.
The decision was made at a meeting of the National Immunisation Technical Advisory Committee, according to Director of the Disease Control Branch of the Directorate General of Health Services Halimur Rashid.
Routine measles vaccination is ongoing, but the special campaign has been undertaken to tackle the current infection situation, he said.
“Now, children aged 9 months receive the first dose and those aged 15 months receive the second dose. However, under the campaign, children from 6 months to 10 years will be vaccinated,” Halimur Rashid said.
The age limit has been revised considering higher infection rates among children, he added.
Registration activities will be conducted before the campaign begins, and parents will be informed accordingly. The international alliance Gavi is providing necessary funding, vaccines, and logistical support.
Vaccine supply has already begun, and syringes along with other equipment will arrive in phases, officials said.
Field-level health workers will be trained for the successful implementation of the campaign. Micro-planning is also underway to determine how many children in each area will be covered.
Earlier, on Sunday, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain stated that Tk604 crore had been allocated for vaccine purchases.
