UNICEF has revealed that Bangladesh faced a prolonged shortage of routine measles vaccines last year despite repeated warnings issued to the government since 2024. Speaking at a press conference titled “Measles Outbreak and Ongoing Response Activities” in Dhaka on Wednesday (May 20), UNICEF Bangladesh Representative Rana Flowers said the organization had raised concerns at least 10 times through meetings and also sent 5 to 6 formal letters to relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to UNICEF, Bangladesh received only 17.8 million doses of measles vaccine between August and November 2025 — barely one-third of the country’s annual requirement. The country needs nearly 70 million vaccine doses every year, but routine immunization programs were severely disrupted due to insufficient supply, leaving many children unvaccinated and increasing the risk of widespread measles outbreaks.
UNICEF stated that the crisis was not caused by a shortage of funds, but rather by delays in the procurement process that prevented vaccines from being secured on time. The organization also noted that the situation has started to improve, with routine measles vaccine supplies resuming from May this year. Authorities and development partners are now focusing on accelerating immunization drives, reaching high-risk children, and strengthening surveillance in outbreak-prone areas across Bangladesh.
Government warned 5 times since 2024 about measles vaccine shortage: UNICEF
