KARACHI: The Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) on Monday sought collaboration from stakeholders to tackle outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases in the province, especially diphtheria — a highly contagious bacterial infection that has so far claimed lives of 40 children in the province.

EPI officials held a virtual consultative meeting that brought together paediatric and infectious diseases’ experts from the private and public sector.

The hospitals represented at the meeting included the National Institute of Child Health, Aga Khan University Hospital, Indus Hospital, Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital, Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad and Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi.

The programme started off with World Health Organisation’s Dr Ghulam Hussain sharing critical data on vaccine-preventable diseases, focusing on the current diphtheria situation.

In his remarks, Additional Director-EPI Dr Sohail Raza explained how the organisation was responding to the outbreaks.

He said it was actively supporting hospitals where cases were being reported while the district health officers were implementing a ‘30-household’ policy to contain the disease spread in affected communities.

EPI Director Dr Muhammad Naeem emphasised the importance of collaboration, urging professors and hospital teams to promote vaccination within their institutions.

He requested hospitals to screen incoming children for vaccination status and refer unvaccinated children to the EPI centres.

Responding to concerns over the vaccine supply chain and its efficacy, he said the EPI-Sindh had a robust cold chain and vaccine supply system, with buffer stocks available at all centres.

Dr Waqar Soomro briefed the attendees on the upcoming “Big Catch-Up” initiative set to be launched in November.

“This programme aims to vaccinate children up to five years of age who missed their vaccinations for any reason, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic,” he told the audience.

Dr Khalid Shafi of the Pakistan Paediatric Association facilitated a question-answer session, addressing concerns and queries raised by the professors and paediatricians.

The attendees included Dr DS Akram, Dr Taj Laghari and Prof Fareeddudin, Dr Shazia Memon and Dr Arshad Ali.

Published in Dawn, October 22th, 2024