Health Ministry Responds to UNICEF Concerns Over Measles Vaccine Shortage
"There was no specific discussion about the measles vaccine."
— Prof Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser
DHAKA — Prof Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief adviser of the interim government on health ministry affairs, has issued a written response to UNICEF's claim that it repeatedly warned the interim government about a measles vaccine shortage that could lead to an outbreak.
Key Points from Prof Sayedur
- No shortage reported: He stated that in 2025, except for one or two isolated incidents, there was no indication that anyone had to return without receiving a measles vaccine due to a shortage.
- Data does not reflect shortfall: According to Prof Sayedur, vaccine coverage data until December did not reflect any such shortfall.
- Decisions are collaborative: Decisions related to special campaigns are taken by the Inter-Agency Coordination Committee, where representatives of UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) are present.
- No mention of outbreak: In the communications made by UNICEF, there was no mention of a "measles outbreak," according to Prof Sayedur.
No Comment from Former Adviser
Former health adviser to the interim government, Nurjahan Begum, could not be reached for comment as her phone was switched off.