The government is taking a cautious approach to mass dengue vaccination while claiming that early planning and coordinated measures have reduced infections and deaths this year, Health State Minister Dr MA Muhit has said.
"No decision will be taken hastily without a detailed analysis of scientific opinions, clinical data, and the potential side effects and effectiveness of the vaccines in our population," he told reporters today (13 October) after a seminar on mental health held at the Bangla Academy in the capital.
The state minister said the potential use of dengue vaccines was discussed in detail at a meeting with the prime minister on the day.
Globally, two to three dengue vaccines have passed through various stages of clinical trials and received approval for use in around 30 countries, he said.
The vaccines are primarily being used in the private sector in those countries. India has also recently approved the use of a dengue vaccine in the private sector, he added.
However, the government remains cautious about approving mass vaccination in Bangladesh, given the health and safety of millions of people at stake, Muhit said.
He stressed that dengue vaccination should not be viewed as an immediate solution to the current outbreak, but rather as a measure to provide protection in the future.
Meanwhile, the government is assessing the feasibility of introducing a Japanese-developed technology to control Aedes mosquitoes. A pilot application of the technology is also under consideration, he said.
Dengue death rate down 40% this year, claims state minister
The state minister attributed the decline in dengue infections and deaths compared with previous years to early planning and coordinated measures, saying the government prepared an action plan four months in advance and warned two months ago that cases could rise from late September through November.
Muhit claimed that specialised training and science-based treatment have reduced the dengue death rate by around 40%, from five to three deaths per 1,000 patients, compared with previous years.
He added that around 2,000 doctors from medical colleges and district hospitals across all 64 districts had received refresher training in dengue treatment.
The state minister also said the prime minister had inaugurated a cleanliness and awareness campaign involving around 1,000 young volunteers from various organisations at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
Cleanliness drives are also being conducted at government offices every Saturday, he added.
Noting the high dengue caseload in Dhaka and Khulna divisions, Muhit urged residents to regularly clean rooftops, balconies, flowerpots and ground floors to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, stressing that public participation is essential to controlling the disease beyond law enforcement.