Photo: Collected

DHAKA, April 15, 2026 (BSS) - Amid growing concerns over a measles outbreak, parents across the capital are breathing a sigh of relief as the Emergency Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign-2026 gains steam.

Mother Rata Begum brought her eight-month-old baby, Sumaiya Akhter, from Kamrangirchar to Azimpur Matri Sadan and Child Health Training Institute for vaccination. "My anxiety has eased a bit today," she told BSS. 

"I was very worried about my daughter as there were many measles patients in my area. I feel good now that she was vaccinated. Although I had to stand in a queue, I would still say the overall management is good," she said.

Similarly, Shamsunnaha from Dotala Masjid area in Lalbagh expressed relief after getting her three-year-old son, Tamim Hasan, vaccinated. "I will be able to pass my days with a little relief now that I was able to vaccinate my son. I thank the government for taking such a quick initiative," she said.

At the Azimpur vaccination centre, Health Assistant Tahmina Akhter was busy administering vaccines since morning. "We have started the vaccination programme since morning. Guardians are spontaneously bringing their children. We are vaccinating everyone," she said.

The measles-rubella vaccination programme began on April 5 in 30 upazilas of 18 districts. In the second phase, the government launched the campaign simultaneously in four city corporations - Dhaka South, Dhaka North, Barishal, and Mymensingh - from April 12.

A total of 4,02,456 children have been vaccinated in the Dhaka South City Corporation area alone. To achieve this target, 540 vaccination centres have been set up - 90 permanent and 450 temporary. All children aged six months to five years are being vaccinated from 9 am to 4 pm daily until May 11.

At various centres in the capital, parents could be seen standing in long queues with young children on their laps, some convincing the little ones that the vaccine does not hurt.

At the Radda MCPH vaccination centre in Mirpur-12 under DNCC, Mahfuza Akhter brought her two children - one seven months old and the other two years old. "I was very scared of measles for the past few days. I feel good now after getting my children vaccinated," she said.

"My granddaughter is four years old. She is healthy and has no problems. But after hearing about measles, we got her vaccinated too," said Selina Parveen.

Parents expressed satisfaction with the vaccination drive, saying they brought their children after seeing news about children being hospitalised and dying due to measles in different parts of the country.

DNCC Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Md Imdadul Haque told BSS, "To combat the measles outbreak, people are spontaneously bringing their children to get vaccinated. I can see crowds at various centres. We have taken all measures so that ordinary people can safely bring their beloved children to the centres. There is no shortage of vaccines."

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said the incumbent government's goal is to increase public involvement of field-level officials and ensure 100 percent child participation to make the measles vaccination programme a success.

"Measles vaccination programme has started in 30 high-risk upazilas since April 5. In the second phase, we are starting vaccination in four city corporations, including Dhaka, on April 12,” he said.

“I believe that if we can properly conduct the vaccination programme in Dhaka's two city corporations for the next six months, we will achieve permanent success against measles-rubella," the minister added.