On the occasion of World Immunisation Week, experts at a media orientation workshop declared that completing the course of immunisation for children was inevitable to protect them from diseases and save their lives.
They said children, who are not vaccinated or who do not complete the immunisation course, not only fall prey to deadly diseases but also become sick from the most deadly diseases if they survive.
Since 1978, the campaign against the six deadliest paediatric diseases in Pakistan, including tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, and measles has been going on while smallpox has been eradicated from the country. However, polio, a disease that has been eradicated worldwide, was still present in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Punjab Health Minister Dr Jamal Nasir, Director EPI Dr Mukhtar Awan, Director EPI Rawalpindi Division Dr Asif Shahzad, Consultant UNICEF Punjab Dr Mushtaq, Dr Qaratul Ain and Dr Manzoor also addressed the workshop.
Health experts said that the situation in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad regarding measles was not good and the case of refusal to vaccinate children was no less than alarming.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2023.
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