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RAWALPINDI, Nov 16 (APP): A 12-day measles and rubella vaccination campaign will commence across Punjab, including Rawalpindi, from Monday under the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and with support from the World Health Organization (WHO).
EPI Punjab Director Dr Samra Khurram, during a media workshop here on Saturday, said the drive, running from November 17 to 29, aimed to immunise 17 million children aged between six months and five years. She said some 14,500 vaccination teams had been deployed across the province.
Highlighting Rawalpindi’s priority status, she said about 822,767 children in the district would be targeted through more than 700 teams, including 217 fixed vaccination centres.
The session was attended by District Health Authority Rawalpindi Chief Dr Ehsan Ghani, UNICEF Immunisation Officer Dr Khurram Mubeen Khan, District Health Officer Dr Jawad, WHO Divisional Officer Dr Asif Ali, UNICEF Communication Consultant Aqeel Sarfraz, and representatives from the health department and media.
Dr Samra Khurram said measles was a highly contagious childhood disease, while rubella posed serious risks to pregnant women. She cautioned that rubella infection during pregnancy could lead to congenital disabilities, including hearing impairment and developmental disorders.
She added that Rawalpindi remained the most affected district in Punjab in terms of measles and rubella cases, making the campaign crucial for strengthening children’s immunity.
Alongside the measles and rubella drive, a polio vaccination campaign would run concurrently in 133 union councils, where 703 teams would administer polio drops to children, she said.
UNICEF officials underscored that misleading social media content created unwarranted fear regarding immunisation, stressing that all vaccination activities were fully approved and closely monitored by the government.