With cases increasing, diphtheria becomes concern

4 killed, 6 cases identified in Punjab this year

LAHORE: The negligence over immunisation programme of Punjab Health department has come into the limelight after four people died and more than six confirmed cases of Diphtheria have emerged in the current year.

Extended Program of Immunisation (EPI) Director Dr Munir Ahmed confirmed the statistics, made available by The Express Tribune, and said that government lacked the resources to follow the international standard operating procedures (SOPs) of immunisation.



“In developed countries, the children and adults get vaccinated against about 30 diseases, but here we are immunising only 10 diseases due to lack of funds or resources,” he commented. A high-placed source at the children hospital revealed to The Express Tribune that more than eight cases of diphtheria had arrived at the hospital, while the same number was shown at Mayo hospital. These cases were sending alarm bells ringing in the health department and among parents of millions of children whose lives were at stake.

Why diphtheria remerged

Another source at the Children Hospital, when contacted, explained why the cases of diphtheria were resurfacing. According to him, the incomplete vaccine schedule of Pakistan was playing with the lives of children.

“It is most dangerous that, once again, we are seeing resurgence of a fatal disease, which has long been gotten rid of even in third world countries,” he added.

He said that the majority of children were vaccinated but still suffer from this disease. The only reason was that the vaccination schedule being followed in Pakistan was incomplete with no ‘booster of diphtheria’ vaccine given.

In Pakistan, vaccine of diphtheria was given to children aged six, 10 and 14 weeks only but no booster was given thereafter, he said. “This immunity lasts only three to four years and after that, the child is again prone to develop diphtheria,” he added. “That is the reason for the reemergence of disease in Pakistan,” he said. He said that in developed countries, diphtheria boosters were given at 15 and 18 months and then at five years of age and then 10 years later.



“The Irony is that internationally recommended vaccine of diphtheria booster; D-tap for children and T-dap for adults, both are not available in Pakistan,” he lamented.

Dr Munir Ahmed said the government of Punjab had rescheduled the immunisation program in 2017 and they were strictly following the Punjab health department immunisation schedule.

Replying to a question, he added the diphtheria could not be abolished in third world countries and the  ratio of deaths from diphtheria was higher in K-P than Punjab.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2017.