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PESHAWAR, Jul 14 (APP):Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Health Department launched the third phase of its “Big Catch-Up” immunization campaign, aiming to reach approximately 700,000 children who have yet to receive any vaccines.
This critical initiative seeks to close the immunization gap and protect vulnerable children from preventable diseases.
The launching ceremony was held here at Maulvi Ameer Shah (Maulvi Jee) hospital with Director General Health KP, Dr. Muhammad Saleem as chief guest on the occasion.
WHO Team Lead KP, Dr. Muhammad Babar, Programme Manager UNICEF, Dr. Wisam Hazem, Director EPI KP, Dr. Asghar Khan and other high ranking officials of Health Department were present on the occasion.
Talking to newsmen, DG Health KP, Dr. Muhammad Saleem said that the third round of Big Catch-up campaign will continue for 12 days in the whole of KP except Kohistan districts where polio campaign is already in progress.
He said the first phase of the campaign was launched in October 2024 followed by second round in February 2025.
During the campaign, 0.7 million children below the age of five years will be covered for administration of essential vaccines of 12 perilous diseases.
The campaign underscores the government’s commitment to universal health coverage and aligns with global efforts to ensure no child is left behind in life-saving vaccinations, Dr. Saleem remarked.
“Health officials are mobilizing teams across the province to deliver vaccines efficiently, even in hard-to-reach areas,” said Dr. Asghar Khan, Director EPI KP.
Briefing newsmen, Dr. Ashgar informed that during the last two rounds of Big Catch-up campaigns, around 0.5 million children with zero dose are covered in the province.
Giving a break-up of the target of 0.7 million children, Director EPI said this include 350,000 children who missed vaccination and the same number of newly born children with zero doses.
In the third round, he continued, modification have been made on the bases of lessons learned in earlier campaigns for making it more effective with wide coverage.
Dr. Ashghar apprised that the primary goal of the Big Catch-up campaign is to reach those children who missed routine immunization during the disruption caused by COVID-19 pandemic.
Due to missing of essential vaccination, KP has registered around 3000 confirmed and 6000 suspected cases of measles with death of 10 children in 2024.
While more than 200 cases of diphtheria were registered with four deaths of children, he continued.
He also clarified that EPI has substantial stock of vaccines including more than 200 vials of ADS (Anti Diphtheria Serum) used as life-saving drugs for chronic patients of diphtheria.
The campaign is supported by different departments including Education, Religious Affairs, Police, media and district administrations.
He urged religious scholars, teachers, media persons, politicians and influencers to educate people about importance of vaccination and availing from the ongoing Big Catch-up campaign.
Dr. Ashgar also requested parents to cooperate with Health Department by bringing their children to vaccination centres.
In response to a question about immunization coverage in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dr. Ashghar shared that according to recently held Population Census, the coverage between 67 to 68 percent in the province.
Whereas, he continued, according to Third-Party Verification of Immunization Coverage Survey (TPVICS), a survey conducted to independently verify and assess the validity of reported immunization coverage data, the coverage registered in 2022 is 61 percent with 41 percent in Merged Districts.