A Stain on a Legacy of Success

The recent fatalities caused by a measles outbreak, coupled with controversial remarks from the Health Minister, have ignited a firestorm across social media. What has transpired is not only unexpected but profoundly tragic. For a nation where the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has built a robust, grassroots network over decades, the loss of children in 2026 due to a purported vaccine shortage is a grave concern for public health experts. This program remained seamless across all previous administrations, its efficacy never seriously questioned. The current emergence of vaccine scarcity and oversight lapses has sparked deep public anxiety. Specifically, questions are being raised regarding the utilization of government funds allocated for immunization, as such a crisis was unprecedented under previous leadership.

Bangladesh’s public health history is defined by its enviable success in immunization. Through these efforts, the country eradicated smallpox, brought polio under control, and made remarkable strides in curbing tuberculosis and maternal tetanus. This success was a result of the concerted efforts of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, alongside international partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, icddr,b, and GAVI (The Vaccine Alliance). Established in 2000, GAVI works through public-private partnerships to ensure life-saving vaccines reach developing nations. Even if a government lacks the immediate capacity to purchase vaccines, this alliance provides them free of charge. Therefore, the narrative that vaccines could not be imported due to a lack of funds is difficult to accept. Rather, it is perceived that the matter was simply not treated with the requisite urgency.

A look back at the journey of the EPI in Bangladesh reveals its inception on April 7, 1979. Until 1984, the coverage for the six preventable diseases—tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, and measles—was less than 2%. By 1990, the program expanded nationwide, and by 2006, Bangladesh achieved polio-free status. Over time, modern vaccines like Hepatitis B, Pentavalent, Pneumococcal, and most recently, the HPV vaccine, were integrated. In recognition of these extraordinary achievements, Bangladesh received the ‘GAVI Best Performance Award’ in 2009 and 2012, and in 2019, the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was honored as a ‘Vaccine Hero.’

Statistical analysis shows that in the early 1980s, measles vaccine coverage was a mere 1%. It rose to 50% in the 1990s and reached 70-74% by the year 2000. By 2010, the rate approached 90%, and from 2015 to 2023, coverage stabilized between 95% and 97%. According to international standards, a coverage rate above 95% is essential to keep measles transmission under control—a benchmark Bangladesh had consistently surpassed. However, the current tragic deaths and reports of vaccine shortages are overshadowing decades of hard-won progress. There is a visible failure in addressing the challenge of ‘zero-dose’ children, particularly in urban slums and remote areas. Identifying why this rhythmic success faltered within a robust national system and taking immediate corrective action is now a matter of utmost priority.

Writer: Senior Journalist and Public Health Specialist