No need for probe into measles vax lapse: Zia Hyder
The premier's health adviser rules out formal investigation into measles vaccine disruptions, blaming prior administration's funding delays
ATT Desk Report 
Prime Minister’s Health Affairs Special Assistant SM Ziauddin Hyder said there is no need for a formal investigation into the lapses that led to disruptions in Bangladesh’s measles vaccination programme, arguing that the causes are already well known.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Secretariat on Sunday, Hyder said the problems stemmed from decisions made under the previous administration, which shifted key health programmes from operational plans to development projects (DPPs), creating funding and implementation delays.
“We already know what happened. It was assumed that the projects would be approved quickly and funding would become available, but many of those projects were not prepared or approved even after a year,” he said.
According to Hyder, the transition interrupted the normal flow of funds used to procure vaccines and other essential health supplies, creating shortages that the country is still trying to overcome.
He said the failure to procure vaccines under the previous government resulted in Bangladesh missing its scheduled measles vaccination round for the 2024-25 period.
“There was negligence, without question. The measles vaccination round was missed and vaccine procurement did not take place. There is no need for an investigation to establish that,” he added.
Addressing concerns over continued measles infections and child deaths despite a recent emergency vaccination campaign, Hyder said authorities need to determine whether affected children fall within the campaign’s target group of six months to five years of age.
He noted that older children have yet to be covered under the broader immunisation programme, which is expected to resume later this month and extend measles vaccination to children up to the age of 10.
Hyder also warned that measles is significantly more contagious than Covid-19 and stressed the importance of proper isolation measures at home and in healthcare facilities to limit transmission.
He said the government is working urgently to address shortages of vaccines and family planning products, adding that Health Adviser officials are engaging with international partners, including UNICEF’s Supply Division, to accelerate procurement of essential medical supplies.
