Nationwide special MR vaccination campaign begins

A special measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign began on Saturday across the country with a target of bringing about 34 lakh unvaccinated children aged six months to below five years under the vaccination coverage.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain inaugurated the campaign titled ‘Intensified MR Catch-up Vaccination’ as the chief guest at the T&T playground at Korail in the city’s Banani area this morning.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Md Safiqul Islam Khan chaired the inaugural session.  

Health Services Division Secretary Dr ANM Bazlur Rashid, Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Professor Dr Md Zahid Raihan, Representative of Bangladesh UNICEF Gillian Mellsop and Deputy WHO Representative to Bangladesh Dr Rajesh Narwal attended the programme as guests of honour. 

Under the special campaign, the children who did not receive the vaccine or were missed during the measles-rubella campaign would be identified and vaccinated. The campaign will continue until October 31.

At the same time, children who have reached six months of age during this period and are newly eligible for the vaccine will also be brought under vaccination coverage.

Since the government has taken various measures to control infections and protect children following the outbreak of measles in the country this year, over 1.98 crore children have received the vaccine till September 24 under the National Measles-Rubella (MR) Vaccination Campaign 2026.

During the special vaccination programme, children who have been missed from vaccination would be listed and arrangements would be made to vaccinate them while efforts would also be made to identify children who are outside the existing lists or previous campaign data. 

As part of the special campaign, health workers and volunteers will visit households to verify the vaccination status of children.