LAHORE: The leading experts on paediatrics and immunisation of the country have recommended enhancing measles vaccination in Lahore and Rawalpindi as Punjab prepares to observe the World Immunisation Week from April 24 to 30.

The Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) called renowned names from public health and academia in the Steering Committee at the Emergency Operations Centre here on Wednesday to review surveillance data and plan outbreak response from across the province.

The meeting reviewed plan of activities for World Immunisation Week 2023 that is commemorated around the world from April 24 to 30 every year. The theme for the year 2023 is ‘big catch up.’

Chaired by Director General Health Services Punjab Dr Ilyas Gondal, the meeting was also attended by ex-chairman National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) Prof Tariq Iqbal Bhutta, Professor of Paediatrics from University of Child Health Sciences Dr. Junaid Rashid, renowned researcher Prof Dr. Shakila Zaman, head of MCH Department Institute of Public Health Prof Dr. Rukhsana Hameed, President Pakistan Academy of Family Physicians Dr. Tariq Mian, Director Integrated Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (IRMNCH) Dr. Khalil Ahmed Sakhani, Director EPI Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Director Communicable Disease and Epidemic Prevention & Control Programme (CDC&EPC) Dr. Yadullah, etc.

“We have deployed resources based on measles surveillance data in selected union councils of Lahore and Rawalpindi”, says the DG health Punjab.

He said in sync with the theme of the World Immunisation Week this year, the EPI Punjab has already started the large-scale integrated outreach activity to vaccinate each and every child in the province except Lahore.

The activity is being carried out throughout the month of April 2023 with the technical and financial support of the WHO, he said.

The areas reporting more cases are in spotlight, he said adding that this is an excellent catch-up vaccination opportunity to cover zero dose children/communities & defaulters, higher age group children missing vaccination, ensure Covid-19 vaccination and administer OPV to still missed children.

Director EPI Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed said the immunisation week is commemorated around the world every year from April 24 to 30 to create awareness about the phenomenal impact of vaccines in saving human lives.

He said the vaccines are the most cost effective public health intervention ever introduced in human history. “By arranging the IOA (integrated outbreak analytics) alongside World Immunisation Week 2023, we are complementing demand generation with improved service delivery”, Dr Mukthar said.

Currently, 4,486 vaccinators with as many social mobilisers are carrying out the activity in 3,407 UCs of the province. There are 586 supervisors engaged in the activity which include DHO-PS, EPI focal persons, DSVs and ASVs, he said.

He further said that the EPI Punjab proposed revisions in the vaccination schedule based on the data available. The NITAG ex-chairman assured full support to Punjab if the case is supplemented with more evidence. The plan for the immunisation week came under review as Punjab looks to improve awareness on the role of vaccines in saving lives.

Technical Officer WHO Dr. Imran Qureshi presented disease surveillance data and shared that due to a robust surveillance system, Punjab was picking more cases from all corners of the province.

He said the measles risk assessment tool is used to anticipate and determine district at risk in order to plan mitigation interventions.

The IOA follows an integrated approach where vaccinator visits villages and communities under a defined tour plan for immunisation service delivery, social mobilisers help in linking services with the community and EPI supervisors and managers conduct supportive supervision.

Dr Imran Qureshi said the LHVs provide vaccination services at fixed EPI centres and LHWs support them in community mobilisation and provision of MCH services.

Polio staff is strengthening monitoring to identify gaps and front line healthcare workers are ensuring preventive outreach team reach villages and communities.

Dr. Tariq Mian described the opportunity to establish more fixed EPI centres in potential private sector hospitals through public-private partnerships.

Prof Dr. Junaid Rashid highlighted the importance of establishing dedicated infectious diseases hospital in the province to enable better healthcare while curtailing the spread of infectious agents.

Prof Dr. Shakila Zaman highlighted the significance of research and development especially for serosurveys to enable programme using evidence-based decision making. The meeting ended with vote of thanks from DHS-EPI Punjab.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2023