Dhaka: A fresh shipment of vaccines, including 1.5 million doses of measles-rubella (MR) vaccine and 900,000 doses of tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine, has arrived in Bangladesh. This delivery is part of the government’s concerted efforts to enhance the nationwide immunization program.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the vaccines were procured through collaborations with UNICEF and Gavi and arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital. Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain received the consignment.
Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain expressed optimism that the arrival of 1.5 million doses of the MR vaccine will prevent any vaccine shortages in the future. He highlighted the government’s remarkable achievement in ensuring delivery within 24 days.
He mentioned that the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) had faced challenges due to the previous government’s decisions. However, the current administration prioritizes the program and has revamped the vaccine procurement process by engaging UNICEF directly, bypassing the open tender system.
The government has already disbursed 83.6 million US dollars to UNICEF to procure approximately 95 million vaccine doses. In addition to the MR vaccines, earlier shipments included over 1.5 million doses of the IPV vaccine on May 3. Expectations are set for around 18 million more doses to arrive by May 10, with the complete supply anticipated by September.
The ‘Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign-2026’ is underway to address the measles outbreak. As of May 5, over 16.8 million children have been vaccinated, covering 93 percent of the target population.
Minister Hossain assured that there is sufficient stock of typhoid (TCV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, ensuring no shortages for the next 8 to 12 months. Vaccine quality is being upheld through a cold chain system, supported technically by UNICEF.
He expressed gratitude to development partners, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the immunization program.
Present at the airport for the arrival were Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health Affairs Dr. SM Ziauddin Hayder, Health Secretary Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Prof. Dr. Pravath Chandra Biswas, and UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh Rana Flowers.