Preventive measures: BMU organises seminar on mother and child vaccination

KARACHI:

The gyne-obstetric department of Baqai Medical University organised a workshop on Wednesday on the importance of vaccinations for mothers and their children.

Dr Bushra, a paediatrician, said that in the period following birth, a child must be vaccinated against pneumonia, meningitis, tetanus, tuberculosis, whooping cough, measles and polio.

Gynaecologist Dr Parveen said that a woman in her seventh or eighth month of pregnancy must be given a tetanus shot as this would protect her from infection during and after delivery. She said that a lack of hospitals and maternity homes in rural areas makes anti-tetanus vaccination all the more important for women living in the villages.

All women between 15 to 49 years must be given a five-shot course of anti-tetanus vaccination which will protect them against the disease for at least 20 years, she added. APP

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2012.