United News of Bangladesh

Any concerns over whether changes in vaccine procurement procedures have adversely affected immunisation activities will be reviewed based on technical assessments and relevant evidence, Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain told Parliament on Wednesday. Legal action would be taken if any negligence is found, he said replying to a question from BNP lawmaker Musammat Shammi Akther of the reserved women's seat-22. The minister noted that vaccine procurement, storage and distribution under the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) are carried out in line with international standards and government regulations. The government has outlined a comprehensive strategy to bring every child under vaccination coverage and build a strong immunity shield against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases, Sakhawat Husain said. The government's primary objective is to ensure that no child remains outside the national immunisation programme, he said. Highlighting the government's ongoing response to the current measles outbreak, Sakhawat Husain said, “Vaccine refusal, incomplete immunisation coverage, lack of public awareness and certain geographical and social barriers contribute to the spread of the disease.” He said responsibility for outbreaks and related deaths can only be determined through proper investigations and evidence-based assessments. “If negligence, dereliction of duty or failure to perform responsibilities is found on the part of any official, disciplinary and administrative actions will be taken in accordance with existing laws and regulations.” To prevent similar situations in the future, the government has already undertaken measures to ensure uninterrupted vaccine supply, strengthen vaccine stock management, expand disease surveillance, improve outbreak detection and response systems, raise public awareness and enhance coordination with national and international partners. The minister also said special vaccination campaigns would continue to increase measles immunisation coverage and protect vulnerable populations across the country. As part of the strategy, the government will continue nationwide supplementary immunisation activities (SIA), including emergency vaccination campaigns and crash programmes to contain outbreaks. Priority will be given to identifying and vaccinating "zero-dose" children who have missed routine immunisation, he said. Children living in high-risk areas will also receive an additional dose of the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine through special campaigns, even if they have previously been vaccinated, to ensure maximum protection. The minister said special attention is being given to densely populated and high-risk areas, including Dhaka North and South City Corporations and Cox's Bazar, where large numbers of displaced people reside. According to the Health Ministry's plan, intensive neighbourhood-based vaccination activities will be carried out in these areas over the coming months through detailed micro-planning. To prevent children from being left out of future immunisation programmes, the government is also modernising the health system through digital solutions. The minister said the expansion of the E-Tracker System and ensuring 100 per cent online registration of children's vaccination records are among the key initiatives. Efforts are also underway to strengthen and modernise the cold chain system to maintain vaccine quality, particularly in remote areas. Sakhawat Husain said surveillance and rapid response mechanisms are being reinforced to detect and manage measles cases at an early stage. Community-Based Surveillance (CBS) teams are being formed to identify suspected measles cases in the field and at hotspot locations. The government also plans to ensure adequate supplies of testing kits and expand specialised treatment facilities, including Bubble CPAP support for children suffering from measles-related pneumonia, up to the upazila level. He added that treatment services for infected children, provision of Vitamin A capsules and measures to prevent complications are being strengthened. The minister said public awareness campaigns would be intensified through community meetings, public announcements and mass media initiatives to address vaccine hesitancy and negligence. Special efforts will target working parents and disadvantaged communities.