Online Desk 

The measles situation across Bangladesh has become increasingly alarming, with the Directorate General of Health Services reporting 11 more child deaths in the last 24 hours. Among them, seven children died with measles-like symptoms, while four deaths were confirmed as measles cases. The total number of deaths linked to measles and related symptoms has now risen to 409 nationwide.

Although the government has launched a nationwide vaccination campaign, a large number of children still remain outside immunization coverage. According to rapid assessment data from UNICEF, around 30 to 40 percent of children in urban areas and nearly 15 percent in rural areas have yet to receive the measles vaccine.

Field observations in Dhaka and other areas show that many parents are still unaware of the vaccination campaign. Some remain confused about possible side effects, while others have failed to vaccinate their children due to work pressure or lack of information.

A woman named Lamia, living on the footpath in the Karwan Bazar area, said her two children have never received any vaccines. She said she has no information about where or when vaccinations are being administered. Similar cases of unvaccinated children have also been found in several slum areas of the capital.

Experts say inadequate publicity and weak grassroots awareness campaigns have left many children vulnerable. Public health expert Benazir Ahmed said confusion arose among many parents after authorities decided to start measles vaccination from six months of age instead of the previous nine-month schedule. He stressed that stronger direct communication and outreach from health workers were necessary.

The health authorities said the ongoing nationwide campaign aims to vaccinate around 18 million children. Although officials claim nearly 99 percent coverage has been achieved, many children are still being left out in reality.

Vaccination efforts have been relatively successful in some parts of the capital with the support of NGOs and local health workers. However, hundreds of children in various districts and remain outside the campaign. In a Sundarbans-adjacent upazila in Khulna, authorities are still identifying more than 200 unvaccinated children. In Barguna, district health officials also reported that a portion of children have yet to receive vaccines.

Public health experts believe that full vaccination coverage cannot be achieved without extensive media campaigns, public announcements, local awareness drives, and active involvement of frontline health workers. They also emphasized the need to remove public fear and misconceptions regarding vaccines.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, the actual death toll had remained partially hidden because data from several districts had not been included earlier. After updated figures were added, the death count increased by 46 in a single day. Official records currently show 344 deaths from measles-like symptoms and 65 confirmed measles deaths.