Family members hold their children suffering from measles, admitted at a local hospital in Hyderabad. PHOTO: PPI/FILE
The reason mass vaccinations are so important is that even one weak link in the chain can bring everyone down. Diseases like polio and measles spread quickly and hence are vital public health issues. This is also why parents, religious figures and community figures do not have the right to deny their own children or followers vaccinations. This is not a purely personal matter; the refusal to get vaccinated has a ripple effect that will be felt throughout the country and indeed even across our borders. Just recently, it was believed that a strain of polio discovered in Egypt had actually originated from Pakistan. Polio was a disease we had all but eradicated; now, not only is it back with a vengeance here, we will likely bring it back to other countries that had eliminated the menace.
As bad as refusing vaccinations is, we end up compounding the problem by threatening and killing those who volunteer to administer the vaccinations. The killings of polio workers have had a chilling effect as such incidents prompt international organisations to suspend their work and simply pack their bags and leave. The return of polio and the increase in cases of measles may only be the beginning. As we become a nation which weaves conspiracy theories around basic medicine, other diseases long believed to be gone will likely return, too. And when that happens, we will truly be isolated from the world in a way that we can scarcely imagine. It is time we faced up to the reality that vaccinations are vital or the international community of nations will have nothing to do with us.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 25th, 2013.
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The government of Shehbaz Sharif indeed made every effort to control Dengue Fever in Punjab. What is right, should be praised.
Mandatory vaccination in the first week or birth or whenever recommended depending upon the vaccine. Regular boosters for all children. This is the cheapest and right way to keep our kids safe from the old diseases that the world has conquered. All misinformation and rightwing poison be banned against the vaccination and kid's protection. Education, education and education is the solution for all social evils not misinfo.
There is the concept of Herd immunity meaning that if all the population is effectively vaccinated, then all citizens will see a lower incidence of infection. Punjab will respond effectively to eradicate measles, polio and all childhood infections because the CM has indicated that he plans to tackle this menace. If you recall, Shahbaz Sharif dealt with the Dengue outbreak very well through a public health campaign that was complemented in many parts of the world. The problem lies in whether Punjab's neighbouring provinces of Sind and KPK can follow the same plans. The current outbreak in Punjab has been shown to be due to a measles resurgence in Sind. I am not worried about Punjab's response but whether other provinces can show the same initiative.