Emergency measles vaccination to begin on Sunday

The government has taken urgent steps to combat the measles outbreak in the country.

Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain said that a special vaccination programme will begin across the country from Sunday morning.

He also said that the leave of health workers at the field level has been cancelled.

He gave this information at a press conference held at the Secretariat on Wednesday.

The Health Minister said that the supply of vaccines will be ensured in the upazilas with high measles incidence within the next two days. 

He also said that the Health Department is making preparations at the field level to quickly bring vulnerable children under the ambit of vaccination and necessary instructions have been given to all concerned.

"We have received 1.9 million vaccines from UNICEF. This vaccine will be given. This vaccine will be given to people aged 6 months to 10 years," he added.