Health Minister Sardar Sakhawoat Hossain announced that a special vaccination program to combat the measles outbreak across the country will commence next Sunday. He made this announcement during a briefing held at the Ministry of Health on Wednesday afternoon.

The Health Minister informed that under the program, children aged 6 months to 10 years will be administered the measles vaccine. Necessary syringes and vaccines will be dispatched within the next two days to swiftly launch the vaccination drive in affected rural areas.

He further stated that to successfully complete the vaccination activities, all types of leave for healthcare workers across the country have been cancelled. Concurrently, sufficient ventilators have been prepared in hospitals, and the necessary number of beds has been ensured to manage measles complications.

At this time, the Health Minister warned that an emergency period is approaching. He mentioned that the international organization Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which supplies vaccines for the world’s poorest children, currently has 21.9 million measles vaccine doses in stock, which can be obtained as assistance if needed.

The government hopes that through this special program, measles infection across the country can be brought under rapid control.