Bangladesh Warned Repeatedly Over Measles Vaccine Gap

Press Conference on Measles Outbreak Situation and Ongoing Response Efforts held on 20 May 2026.

Bangladesh faced a prolonged shortage of routine measles vaccines last year despite repeated warnings, with delays in procurement contributing to the worsening situation and increasing the risk of a widespread outbreak, Unicef said on Tuesday.

The information was shared during a press briefing on the country's measles outbreak and response efforts held at Unicef Bangladesh's conference room in the capital.

According to Unicef, Bangladesh requires around 70 million vaccines annually. To address shortages, the organisation stepped in with pre-financing support and facilitated the import of 17.8 million routine Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) vaccines between August and November last year.

Unicef said the imported amount represented less than one-third of the country's annual vaccine requirement, making it insufficient to meet demand.

The agency also noted that the vaccines brought under its pre-financing initiative were later paid for by the government in April this year.

Officials said concerns over the shortage had been raised with the government at least 10 times since 2024 through meetings, along with five to six formal letters sent to relevant authorities. Both the Health Ministry and the Foreign Ministry had been informed about the issue.

According to Unicef, disruptions in routine immunisation left many children without vaccine coverage, increasing their vulnerability to measles and contributing to a significant rise in infections.

The organisation clarified that the shortage was not linked to a lack of funding. Instead, delays in procurement procedures prevented vaccines from being supplied on time.

Unicef Bangladesh Representative Rana Flowers said the situation has recently improved, with measles vaccines arriving again in May. She added that authorities and development partners are now prioritising faster vaccination efforts, identifying high-risk children and strengthening disease surveillance systems.