5.7m children to be vaccinated in K-P 12-day anti-measles drive

EPI says 10,500 cases reported in this year alone

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) anti-measles campaign has started with 5.7 million children set to be administered the vaccine across the province along with the tribal areas.

While inaugurating the campaign in Peshawar on Monday, K-P Minister for Health Hasham Inamullah said the immunisation drive had been rolled out to protect the future generations from the debilitating disease.

He also underscored the need for parents to guarantee that their children are vaccinated.

The provincial minister went on to say that the government’s target is to vaccinate over 95% of children across the province. "I would protect children against infectious diseases for at least five years."

He added: "Parents support is imperative in this drive as we are doing this to protect their children and we expect full support."



“Whatever it takes we are going to make this campaign a success,” the minister said, adding that almost every segment of the society would be involved to achieve the set target.

Moreover, 4.8 million children between the ages of nine to 59 months will be given the vaccine.

According to the Expanded Programme for Immunisation (EPI), there have been thousands of cases in the recent past with scores of children having lost their lives.

The EPI statistics said some 10,500 cases have been reported with 23 children succumbing to the disease in this year alone.

After finalising all the arrangements, the EPI began the campaign which will end on October 27. Trained staff is taking part in the drive with 5,300 teams having been assembled.

Authorities say that 10,500 cases was a huge number and the only way to protect children is vaccinating them.

Earlier this month, the health department had held a meeting with Khateebs from across the province seeking their assistance for the campaign.

The Khateebs vowed to play their role on the need to vaccinate against measles besides all Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD).

Similarly, the campaign will be carried out in the previously tribal areas on similar pattern and on similar days.

Officials stated that the 12-day anti-measles campaign will focus on immunising over 0.9 million children (from nine to 59 months of ages) in seven K-P tribal districts and six sub-divisions.