ISLAMABAD: A bill titled “Islamabad Mandatory Vaccination and Protection of Health Workers Bill 2015” was tabled by Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq on Monday.

The bill aims to make the universal immunization mandatory and to provide security to people employed as health workers for vaccinating children.

Following enactment, the law will ensure every child is vaccinated a Union Council and National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) would not issue a birth certificate or Form-B for a child who has not been given the required vaccination.

Information about vaccination or exemption should be mentioned in the birth certificate and parents would not be able to admit children to primary schools unless parents or guardians produce a vaccination certificate or an affidavit promising to provide a certificate within six months.

Children will be vaccinated at airports, railway stations, bus terminals and entry and exit points of the capital. Every health facility shall, on a monthly basis, maintain a record of vaccination activity in the area. Every medical officer will be obliged to keep records of vaccination available for inspection.

Any person administering polio vaccines will be considered a public servant and the government will ensure their security.

The bill was referred to the standing committee without any amendment.

If the bill is passed, the West Pakistan Vaccination Ordinance, 1958 will be repealed in federal capital.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2015

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