The government has reallocated Tk 604 crore from unused pandemic funds and secured around 2.19 crore vaccine doses with international support as part of urgent measures to combat a measles outbreak, Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain told Parliament on Wednesday.
The government has launched emergency measures to contain a measles outbreak, including a nationwide vaccination drive and the procurement of millions of doses to replenish depleted stocks, he said responding to concerns raised by opposition lawmaker Rumeen Farhana during her call attention notice on urgent public important matters.
Tk 604 crore from unused Asian Development Bank pandemic funds has been reallocated for emergency procurement and 21.9 million doses have been secured through Gavi support while an additional procurement worth Tk 419 crore is in its final stages, said the minister.
To ensure transparency and avoid delays, the minister said the government is bypassing traditional tenders to procure directly through UNICEF.
The minister said 41 deaths have been officially verified by the WHO and UNICEF as directly caused by measles.
The minister announced that while a vaccination campaign began on April 5 in high-risk areas, the program will expand to Dhaka North and South city corporations and other major urban centers starting April 12.
He noted that although Dhaka was not initially classified as a high-risk zone by international partners, the government is taking proactive steps to cover the capital.
Acknowledging that the current administration inherited a near-zero stock of vaccines due to previous mismanagement, Husain detailed urgent financial measures to restore the supply chain.
Addressing the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), the minister highlighted a shift to multi-dose vials to improve storage efficiency and meet WHO cold chain standards. He also addressed workforce shortages, stating that the government is moving to clear outstanding salaries for field-level health workers within days to ensure the vaccination drive remains effective.
Earlier, Rumeen Farhana cited data suggesting higher fatalities and warned of the long-term risks of measles-induced immune suppression among children. She also raised alarms over shortages of several routine vaccines.
In response, the minister assured that under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the situation is being brought under control. "The vaccine stocks are now stabilising, and we are moving forward with full preparedness to protect children’s health," he said.