Dhaka, Bangladesh: Bangladesh has launched a nationwide measles-rubella vaccination campaign as the country battles its most severe measles outbreak in decades. The month-long campaign is targeting millions of children who missed routine immunisation.

3.4 Million Children Targeted

The campaign aims to vaccinate approximately 3.4 million unvaccinated or previously missed children between six months and 59 months of age.

Authorities have temporarily lowered the usual minimum vaccination age from nine months to six months because of the scale of the outbreak.

More Than 1,000 Deaths Reported

Bangladesh has recorded more than 1,000 measles-related deaths, while tens of thousands of infections have been reported since the outbreak began in March.

Reuters reported that the country had recorded nearly 187,000 suspected cases and more than 21,000 confirmed infections since mid-March.

The outbreak has placed additional pressure on hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Immunisation Gaps Behind the Crisis

Health experts have linked the outbreak partly to disruptions in routine childhood immunisation during 2024 and 2025.

Political instability, vaccine supply difficulties and cancelled vaccination campaigns left some children without adequate protection against measles.

Emergency vaccination efforts have already reached millions of children, but authorities say significant gaps remain.

Vaccination Campaign Expanded

The latest campaign is designed to reach children who were missed during earlier immunisation activities.

Health teams are focusing particularly on young children because measles can cause serious complications, including pneumonia, dehydration and other severe illnesses.

Healthcare System Under Pressure

The measles outbreak is occurring alongside seasonal dengue infections, adding further pressure to Bangladesh’s healthcare system.

Hospitals and health workers are therefore dealing with multiple infectious-disease challenges at the same time.

Global Health Concern

The scale of Bangladesh’s measles outbreak has attracted international attention. Reuters reported that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has described Bangladesh as experiencing the world’s largest measles outbreak.

Health authorities are emphasizing vaccination as the central tool for closing immunity gaps and reducing further transmission.

Focus on Reaching Missed Children

The success of the campaign will depend heavily on reaching children who were missed during previous vaccination programmes.

Authorities are continuing to expand immunisation activities while monitoring new infections and deaths.

The campaign represents a major effort to rebuild population-level protection against measles and reduce the pressure on Bangladesh’s already stretched health services.