Bangladesh’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain has assured that the government is prioritizing public confidence and strengthening nationwide vaccination efforts amid concerns surrounding immunization management.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Secretariat during a ceremony marking the donation of polio vaccines by China and Chinese company Sinovac Foundation, the minister said the government is focused on ensuring that no child remains outside the vaccination program.
The event was organized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy. Bangladesh received 76,616 vials of polio vaccine, equivalent to approximately 383,080 doses, as part of the donation.
The minister emphasized that complications from measles often lead to pneumonia, making advanced respiratory support essential in severe cases. He said the government has already increased ventilator support facilities across hospitals to manage critical patients.
“We are continuing treatment for measles patients, maintaining isolation systems, ICU services, and ensuring doctors remain fully engaged,” he said, adding that a private pharmaceutical entrepreneur from the United States has also donated 10 additional ventilators, which will soon be distributed to healthcare facilities.
Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain further stated that Bangladesh currently has an adequate supply of vaccines and that the nationwide polio vaccination campaign will continue without disruption.
He also announced that anti-rabies vaccination programs are being expanded, assuring that no patient would be left without access to essential vaccines. While mentioning a temporary shortage of Vitamin A capsules, the minister said sufficient supplies are expected by June, allowing the government to continue its routine biannual Vitamin A distribution program.
The health minister stressed that authorities are actively identifying children who have missed routine immunizations under the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). He noted that the government’s immediate priority is to restore confidence among parents rather than focusing solely on identifying past mistakes related to vaccine management.
Responding to questions about whether the government would investigate allegations of mismanagement in the vaccination system, the minister said a decision would be taken centrally after the current health situation stabilizes.
