Acknowledging the problem, Heath Directorate officials said they have taken additional measures to store the vaccines at the required temperature (2 to 8 degree Celsius).

In many upazilas, the measles vaccines are being carried in cold boxes from the refrigerators of upazila storeroom as a cold box can preserve a vaccine for four days, they said.

Dr Lutfar Rahman, programme manager of the Extended Immunisation Programme (EPI), said the power crisis in upazilas could not affect the vaccines as alternative measures have already been taken.

Generators are being used in some upazila health complexes to operate the refrigerators, he added.

Besides, the high-ups of the government have issued an order to the power supply authorities to ensure uninterrupted power supply to upazila storerooms, said Dr Iqbal Ansary Khan, medical officer of EPI and Surveillance.

The health ministry through the EPI has been carrying out the campaign across the country with a target to cover a total of 3.35 crore children aged between nine months and 10 years. The campaign that started on February 25 will continue until March 16.

The first week of the campaign ends today. During this period, vaccines were given to students at primary level educational institutions across the country.

The officials said they have been carrying out the campaign almost successfully.

During the second and third weeks, all the vaccination centres of the government will conduct the programme from 8:00am to 3:00pm daily. The government hospitals are also involved in the campaign.

The American Red Cross, World Health Organisation (WHO), Unicef and the government have funded the campaign involving Tk 80.7 crore.

About 50,000 trained workers and 7.5 lakh volunteers are carrying out the campaign.