Boosting Immunization in Punjab

Punjab has developed a comprehensive five-year immunization strategy aimed at strengthening routine immunization and achieving universal and primary healthcare goals, with a focus on raising awareness about free vaccinations for children and enforcing comprehensive legislation for the immunization program.

The strategy was formulated during a workshop organized by the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Punjab, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international partners. The workshop brought together experts who developed targets with measurable outcomes for the next five years, including visible goals such as raising awareness in the community about free vaccinations available for children and emphasizing the significance of vaccination schedules. Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Khawaja Imran Nazir emphasized the importance of immunization in meeting challenges like polio eradication, measles elimination, and developing robust surveillance systems.

The minister highlighted that strengthening routine immunization is essential to achieve Pakistan's goals of universal and primary healthcare, as well as larger sustainable development goals (SDGs). He appreciated the efforts of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Punjab for developing a comprehensive immunization strategy and emphasized the need to set yearly and quarterly measurable targets with short-term and long-term goals. The minister also stressed the importance of creating awareness in the community about the availability of free vaccination to children below five years of age for 12 fatal diseases in Punjab.

The development of this comprehensive immunization strategy marks a significant step towards improving the health and wellbeing of children in Punjab, and its successful implementation will be crucial in achieving the province's healthcare goals. With the support of international partners and the commitment of local authorities, Punjab is poised to make significant progress in its immunization efforts.

Punjab's new immunization strategy aims to strengthen routine immunization, achieve universal healthcare goals, and eliminate diseases such as polio and measles, with a focus on awareness and community engagement.