Second National Vaccine Seminar, organized by Aga Khan University

KARACHI, Apr. 23 (APP): Child specialists of the country, on Saturday, attributed stagnation in the childhood immunization coverage to administrative and managerial flaws coupled with poor accountability.They were addressing the participants of the Second National Vaccine Seminar, organized by Aga Khan University in collaboration with Trust for Vaccines and Immunization (TVI), USAID and Rotary International.

Senior pediatricians including Dr. Abdul Gaffar Billoo, Prof. Zulfiqar Bhutta, Dr. Tariq Iqbal Bhutta in their respective presentations lamented that despite passage of 30 years the childhood immunization coverage rate against EPI covered diseases ranged between 47% to 57%.

Polio was cited to be an exception with 90% coverage owing to global pressures.

It was mentioned that Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) was launched in 1978 with the target to eradicate six vaccine preventable diseases and initial success of small pox eradication had enhanced expectations of similar fate for other ailments.

Despite the fact that over the years new ailments were included in the EPI, they opined that the success of small pox eradication diverted the attention required towards strengthening routine immunization.

“This consequently led to marked decline in the immunization coverage of our kids,” commented one of the speakers.

Official statistics show that bulk of our childhood deaths occur in first year (54%) while 450,000 of children below five also fail to survive due to different infections and disorders.

“Universal immunization coverage of these 450,000 kids could protect them against vaccine preventable deaths and disabilities,” said a speaker.

via Associated Press Of Pakistan ( Pakistan’s Premier NEWS Agency ) – Speakers lament administrative flaws hindering immunization coverage.