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PESHAWAR, Nov 07 (APP):Health experts have urged media persons to raise awareness among public about importance of vaccination for prevention of Measles and Rubella diseases among children as Pakistan ranks among the top five countries in the world with highest burden of these most contagious diseases.
Pakistan is consistently listed as one of the top five countries with the highest burden of measles cases and mortality and due to insufficient vaccination coverage (below the recommended 95% threshold), outbreaks continue to occur frequently across the country, they added.
The experts were speaking to media persons during an orientation session organized by Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI) regarding the upcoming 12 days Measles and Rubella (MR) campaign starting from November 17 to 29, next.
The upcoming campaign will cover around 36 million children aged six to 59 months across the country. Among these children around 35, 167,257 number of MR vaccines will be administered along with 23, 186,915 number of OPV (Oral Polio Virus) drops, says Dr. Asghar Khan, Director EPI KP.
He said in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the target of vaccination for 12 days campaign is 6,423,877 for MR vaccine and 5,246,820 for OPV drops.
The objective of vaccination campaign is achieve coverage of at least 95 percent in all provinces and federal areas through closing measles, rubella and polio population immunity gaps, stopping current transmission and prevent risk of large and disruptive outbreaks.
Director EPI said every vaccine has some adverse effects with very less average of around one child among one million. Therefore, he continued, the media men should consult health experts before reporting of any such case to avoid spreading fear among people.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Kamran Qureshi, Immunization Officer Unicef said Measles is highly contagious, serious airborne disease caused by a virus that can lead to sever complication and death.
The proportion of children receiving a first dose of measles vaccine was 83 percent in 2023 the 2019 level of 86 percent.
During the last three years, around 131,000 number of measles cases have been reported in Pakistan.
He said measles spread is much fast than COVID-19 and one infected child can spread this disease among 18 persons. The disease weaken immunity system and can proves fatal in some cases, he added.
Dr. Inamullah Khan, Team Lead Unicef laid emphasis on prevention which is better than cure. Through vaccine, people can prevent several diseases and this message should be communicated among people, he added.
Dr. Inam said in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa vaccination coverage is 64 percent while 36 percent children are missed and become vulnerable to contracting difference communicable diseases including measles and rubella.
He urged media to cooperate with health team in countering misconceptions about vaccine which is causing hesitancy among people.
Deputy Director EPI KP, Dr. Muhammad Ayaz also spoke on the occasion and apprised media persons about target and planning of upcoming Measles and Rubella vaccination campaign in the province.
Former President Peshawar Press Club, Arshad Aziz Malik in his speech urged media to do balance reporting on vaccination through counter checking of any incident by consulting health experts or focal persons of EPI.