EPI aims to immunise over 4 million kids

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Kh Imran Nazir said the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) aimed to immunise over four million target children annually and approximately the same number of pregnant women against Tetanus-diphtheria (Td).

He said that EPI Punjab provides vaccination against 12 fatal childhood diseases that are Poliomyelitis, Measles, Rubella, Neonatal Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, childhood TB, Hepatitis-B, Meningitis, Pneumonia, Rota Diarrhea and Typhoid.

The minister said this while talking at a walk held at the beginning of World Immunisation Week in the Directorate General Health Services Punjab here on Tuesday.

The World Immunisation Week is commemorated world over from April 24-30 and occasion is used to create awareness among masses on vaccination and its public health benefits.

Present in the walk were DG Health Services Punjab Dr Ilyas Gondal, Director Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Punjab Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Programme Managers, Head of Office WHO Sub Office Punjab Dr Jamshaid Ahmed, UNICEF and BMGF representatives, as well as representatives of professional bodies.

The minister while talking to media on the occasion, said that the World Immunisation Week provided an opportunity to highlight the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against vaccine preventable diseases.

He said, “The theme of the World Immunisation Week 2024 is Humanly Possible: Saving lives through Immunisation”. The year 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of EPI and therefore this year provides a pivotal occasion to celebrate the programme achievements and highlight its impact on lives saved.

The minister said Punjab is poised to introduce HPV vaccine to curb the cases of cervical cancer among women. The vaccine, he said, will play key role in stopping the spread of cervical cancer.