Parents urged to ensure vaccination of their kids

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Kh Imran Nazir on Tuesday has appealed the parents to ensure vaccination of their children during the ongoing round of Integrated Outreach Activity (IOA) across the province.

He said the Primary & Secondary Healthcare Department Punjab is conducting its largest routine immunization catch up activity in all the districts of the province from April 1 to 30, 2024 to vaccinate each and every child in the province. The activity is being carried out in all the 3,572 Union Councils of the province with the technical and financial support of WHO. The minister said, “This is high season for measles and in the wake of changing weather, we may see spike in measles cases. I appeal parents to take special care of measles vaccination of children. The IOA is especially designed catch up activity which aims at reaching out to all due, defaulter and zero dose children. The idea is to intensify routine immunization and ensure each and every child is protected against vaccine preventable diseases.” The minister said, “Though Punjab is reporting fewer measles cases than the rest of the country, yet we must stay alert and ensure complete vaccination of children. We cannot afford any laxity especially in mega urban cities and districts bordering with other provinces.”

Director Health Services (EPI) Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said two doses of measles vaccine are administered to children below two years of age. He said the EPI Program provides free vaccines for 12 diseases. Skilled immunisation staff administers vaccination through fixed and outreach EPI sites as well as mobile vaccination. Dr Mukhtar said that measles is a contagious diseases and can be transmitted even through close contact.