To fight pneumonia: Pneumococcal vaccine introduced in the federal capital EPI centres
Children under age of five will be vaccinated at all EPI centres.
Children under the age of five, who are at high risk for the pneumococcal infections. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
After a prolonged delay, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has introduced a free of charge pneumococcal vaccine in the federal capital to fight against pneumonia.
Children under the age of five, who are at high risk for the pneumococcal infections, will be vaccinated at all EPI centres in Islamabad and its suburbs.
An official at the federal EPI told The Express Tribune that efforts were made to introduce the anti-pneumonia vaccine last winter but due to the callous attitude of officials of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), the target was missed.
“Since January 2013, the federal EPI has missed three deadlines, which is embarrassing,” said the official.
He said that the pneumococcal vaccine had already been introduced in Punjab, Sindh and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, but unfortunately the federal capital failed to meet the set deadline for its introduction.
The government of Pakistan, in collaboration with international donors, had included the pneumococcal vaccine in the EPI last year.
“It is really embarrassing that just because of lack of political will, we failed to fulfill our international commitment well on time,” said the official.
Directorate of Health Services (DHS) Director Dr Hassan Urooj while talking to The Express Tribune said that the Capital Development Authority had already completed all the requirements to introduce the vaccine in its territory, but the delay was caused by the lethargic attitude of ICT officials.
He said that the currently vaccine was available in all its 11 allied medical centers in urban Islamabad and efforts will be made to vaccinate all the children under the age five.
Deputy Commissioner, Amir Ali Ahmad, could not be contacted for his version on the issue of delay in introducing the vaccine.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2013.
After a prolonged delay, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has introduced a free of charge pneumococcal vaccine in the federal capital to fight against pneumonia.
Children under the age of five, who are at high risk for the pneumococcal infections, will be vaccinated at all EPI centres in Islamabad and its suburbs.
An official at the federal EPI told The Express Tribune that efforts were made to introduce the anti-pneumonia vaccine last winter but due to the callous attitude of officials of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), the target was missed.
“Since January 2013, the federal EPI has missed three deadlines, which is embarrassing,” said the official.
He said that the pneumococcal vaccine had already been introduced in Punjab, Sindh and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, but unfortunately the federal capital failed to meet the set deadline for its introduction.
The government of Pakistan, in collaboration with international donors, had included the pneumococcal vaccine in the EPI last year.
“It is really embarrassing that just because of lack of political will, we failed to fulfill our international commitment well on time,” said the official.
Directorate of Health Services (DHS) Director Dr Hassan Urooj while talking to The Express Tribune said that the Capital Development Authority had already completed all the requirements to introduce the vaccine in its territory, but the delay was caused by the lethargic attitude of ICT officials.
He said that the currently vaccine was available in all its 11 allied medical centers in urban Islamabad and efforts will be made to vaccinate all the children under the age five.
Deputy Commissioner, Amir Ali Ahmad, could not be contacted for his version on the issue of delay in introducing the vaccine.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2013.