‘Increase EPI scope to control diseases’

LAHORE

The scope and reach of Expanded Programme of Immunisation (EPI) must be increased as 27 percent of deaths of below 5 years age children in Pakistan are due to vaccine-preventable diseases, revealed health experts in a press briefing to mark World Immunisation Week.

Former President Pakistan Paediatric Association Prof Dr Tahir Masood said that immunisation is a proven tool for controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious diseases and it is one of the most cost-effective health investments.

He said vaccines protect children by preparing their bodies to fight many potentially deadly diseases. They are responsible to control many infectious diseases that were once common around the world, including smallpox, polio, measles, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), rubella (German measles), mumps, tetanus, and Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib).

Besides, vaccines are considered second only to clean drinking water in controlling infectious diseases. ‘Immunisation is one of the most successful and cost-effective health interventions and prevents between two and three million deaths every year,’ Dr Tahir added.

To a question, why there is a need for vaccination, Prof Dr Haroon Hamid, General Secretary PPA Central and Head of Department Pediatrics Mayo Hospital, said every year, globally Pneumonia kills an estimated 1.2 million children under the age of five years, more than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Rotavirus gastroenteritis is estimated to cause more than half a million child deaths. Two billion people are infected with Hepatitis B virus and about 780,000 people die, all of these can be prevented through vaccination and immunisation,’ Dr Haroon said.

Globally 17 percent of deaths in under-5 years age group are due to vaccine preventable diseases. ‘Without vaccines, epidemics of many preventable diseases could return, resulting in increased – and unnecessary – illness, disability, and death,’ he added.

Talking about how vaccination change lives, Prof Dr Agha Shabbir, Vice-President PPA central, said measles vaccination resulted in a 75 percent drop in measles-related deaths between 2000 and 2013 worldwide, while illnesses and complications caused by influenza can be reduced by up to 60 percent, and deaths by 80 percent, in elderly patients.

‘Polio cases have been reduced by 99 percent from over 300,000 per year in 1988 to less than 650 cases in 2011. Smallpox was eradicated globally in a time span of 10 years,’ said Dr Agha.

Dr Asif Kaleem Sheikh said we have to educate parents about the importance of vaccination and persuade them to bring their children to nearest EPI centres. Despite the availability of free vaccines coverage is very low. Lack of awareness and socio-cultural barriers are the biggest reason to it.

‘Media is the only force which can create mass level awareness and help to protect our children from deadly diseases,’ he concluded.