Pakistan lags behind in vaccination due to cultural, religious taboos

Expert says vaccines have been comprehensively saving lives since 1796

PESHAWAR:

Dr Kamran Qureshi, Immunization officer, UNICEF, has said that due to cultural and religious taboos Pakistan lags behind in universal vaccination for all its population.

He was addressing a seminar arranged by Community Medicine Department, Northwest School of Medicine NWSM in collaboration with UNICEF regarding the importance of immunization in children and adults to prevent diseases and death among the population of the world.

According to a press release issued here on Tuesday, the seminar was organized in connection with World Immunization Week observed globally every year in April to highlight collective action which is needed to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease.

The World Immunization Week theme for 2022 is ‘A Long Life for All is not a promise – it’s an ambition because everyone deserves a chance at a fulfilling life’.

Dr Kamran Qureshi (Immunization officer, UNICEF) gave a detailed presentation regarding the importance, current situation and future goals regarding the immunization program in Pakistan.

“The ultimate goal of World Immunization Week is for more people - and their communities - to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases,:” he maintained. Vaccines have been comprehensively saving lives since 1796.

Across two and a quarter centuries, billions of people have lived longer lives.

“However, due to cultural and religious taboos Pakistan is lagging behind in universal vaccination of all its population,” he argued.

Dr Waqar Ali, HoD, Public Health Community Medicine, NWSM, informed the participants, “Vaccines provide opportunity and hope for all of us to enjoy a more fulfilling life. And that’s something we should all be united to promote. Wild poliovirus is still prevalent in Pakistan and Afghanistan and hampering its progress”.

The students of NWSM later distributed pamphlets and flyers among patients to sensitize the public about the importance of vaccination.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2022.