Bangladesh is grappling with a severe diphtheria outbreak that began in March and has already claimed more than 1,200 lives and produced over 220,000 confirmed cases, according to the country’s Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). An independent panel of experts, convened by the government and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the Gavi vaccine alliance, has warned that the current crisis in the national immunisation system could trigger outbreaks of other vaccine‑preventable diseases, including measles and polio. The panel’s report, submitted to the government, states: “Without urgent measures, measles, diphtheria, and even polio are only a matter of time.” Earlier this month, a 70‑member assessment team reviewed Bangladesh’s vaccination programme. The team found that only 82 % of children had received up‑to‑date vaccines, falling short of the 95 % coverage target set by health authorities. The short