Get the vaccine

The healthcare system of Pakistan is not at par with the international standards. If the country is committed to improving this ailing sector, it would have to follow the examples set by developed countries. According to a recent survey, the country is threatened by pneumonia. The disease causes 92,000 deaths in the country. There is a dire need for the country to arrange proper vaccinations to save the lives of children. A lot of vaccines are available in the international market but the government is not taking any action to acquire them. The International Vaccine Access Centre (IVAC), a Johns Hopkins initiative, published a strategic analysis report in March 2016 which suggested that PCV13has been successfully implemented in immunization programmes of over 93 countries and within a year of its introduction to the National Immunisation Programme, it has documented effectiveness against invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD)in children less than 2 years.

In the US, the introduction of this vaccine led to a 62 percent decline in pneumococcal diseases (PDs). Similarly, Zimbabwe and other African countries, such as Gambia, have witnessed a significant fall in PDs by up to 55 percent after using PCV13. Why do the people and children of Pakistan not have access to the latest therapies and vaccines? The relevant authorities should take immediate action in the best interest of the people of the country.

Ammar Muzaffar

Karachi