Khairul Alam ; Health Desk — More than half of the children who died from measles in Bangladesh were under nine months old—the standard age at which the first dose of the measles vaccine is administered, revealing a critical window of vulnerability for infants.
Furthermore, a hospital-based study showed that a striking 80% of children admitted with measles had not received any dose of the vaccine.
The findings were presented on Sunday during a seminar on the country’s measles outbreak and intervention strategies, organized by the Department of Microbiology at BRAC University.
The insights stem from joint research conducted by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) and Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute.
Key Findings on Hospitalizations and Vaccination Gaps
Dr. Mustafizur Rahman, Senior Director of the Infectious Diseases Division at icddr,b, presented data from a study involving 341 pediatric patients up to 14 years of age treated at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital between April and May.
The research revealed that among the hospitalized children, 80% were completely unvaccinated.
Of these unvaccinated patients, 43% were under six months old—too young to receive the routine dose—while 37% were older than nine months but had missed their vaccination. Only 14% of the patients had received a single dose, and merely 6% had completed both recommended doses.
Explaining the biological rationale behind vaccine timing, Dr. Rahman cited separate research conducted in Dhaka’s Kamalapur, noting that maternal antibodies passed to infants typically fade between 6 to 9 months of age.
“The younger the child, the less effective the vaccine tends to be,” explained Dr. Rahman. “Vaccinating at 4 to 6 months yields protective antibodies in 50% to 75% of infants, whereas administering it at 9 to 12 months increases protection to 88%–90%.”
Fatalities and Secondary Complications
Presenting complementary data, Professor Mahmudur Rahman, former director of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), shared findings from an investigation into 337 measles-related infant deaths.
The analysis showed that 91% of the deceased children were completely unvaccinated. Age breakdown revealed that 22% were under 6 months old, 30% were between 6 and 9 months, 25% were aged 9 to 11 months, 17% were between 1 and 4 years old, and 6% were aged 5 years or older. Combined, infants under nine months accounted for 52% of total fatalities.
Addressing the physiological causes of death, former head of the Pediatric Department at Dhaka Medical College, Professor Abid Hossain Mollah, emphasized the danger of secondary infections.
“Pneumonia remains one of the leading causes of death for children under five in Bangladesh,” noted Prof. Mollah. “Children suffering from measles often develop pneumonia at an advanced stage, which frequently proves fatal. Beyond vaccination, proper nutrition and breastfeeding play essential roles in protecting infants.”
Toll Mounts as Experts Call for Action
The situation on the ground remains severe. In the latest report, four more children succumbed to measles-like symptoms, while 938 new symptomatic cases and 113 confirmed measles infections were recorded nationwide.
Since March 15, a total of 788 children have died from confirmed measles or measles-like symptoms across Bangladesh.
Public health experts at the seminar urged the government to consider expanding research into vaccine efficacy and child nutrition, with Dr. Mustafizur Rahman suggesting that maternal vaccination during pregnancy could be explored to protect newborns before they reach vaccination age.