Child immunisation: International bodies reject EPI report
60 to 70 per cent children were vaccinated against measles across Pakistan, says EPI report.
PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
International health organisations have rejected a report by the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) on the number of children vaccinated against measles in Pakistan.
According to the EPI report, 60 to 70 per cent children were vaccinated against measles across Pakistan while officials of international health organisations said the figure was around 20 to 30 per cent.
Child specialists agreed with the latter’s assessment and held parents responsible for this negligence.
The said that it was a child’s right to be vaccinated against diseases but unfortunately parents are not aware of the importance of immunisation. They also said that without immunisation children fall ill repeatedly during their early years and it affects their mental growth.
According to EPI, all children should be administered vaccines against nine diseases, which are provided free of cost.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 16th, 2013.
International health organisations have rejected a report by the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) on the number of children vaccinated against measles in Pakistan.
According to the EPI report, 60 to 70 per cent children were vaccinated against measles across Pakistan while officials of international health organisations said the figure was around 20 to 30 per cent.
Child specialists agreed with the latter’s assessment and held parents responsible for this negligence.
The said that it was a child’s right to be vaccinated against diseases but unfortunately parents are not aware of the importance of immunisation. They also said that without immunisation children fall ill repeatedly during their early years and it affects their mental growth.
According to EPI, all children should be administered vaccines against nine diseases, which are provided free of cost.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 16th, 2013.