KOHAT
World Immunization Week celebrated in the last week of April every year kicked off across the country on Sunday and would be continue till next Saturday April 30, 2022, aims to highlight the collective action needed and to promote the use of vaccines against disease to protect people of all ages.
National Immunization Awareness Week (NIAW) is an annual event held in the last week of April to highlight and recognize the importance of immunization. World Immunization Week is being observed from April 24 to April 30, 2022 this year where millions of children will be vaccinated against 12 diseases.
“Immunization Week is being observed to prevent 12 diseases and for the first time, women up to 49 years of age will also be vaccinated against tetanus”, an EPI Coordinator provided the details of the plan, directing the parents to ensure that their children were vaccinated to protect them from diseases and ensure a healthy Pakistan.
He further requested all the parents to support the health department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and get their children vaccinated free of cost from their nearest health center or immunization center following the immunization schedule to prevent deadly diseases.
It is the sole responsibility of parents to vaccinate their children against these 12 diseases and in this regard the media can play a vital role in raising public awareness”, another senior medical officer of the health department explained the strategy regarding the vaccination of children, teams will go to “hujras”- community centers in various union councils for tetanus injection and women between the ages of 15 and 49 will be injected”.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pediatric Association President Prof. Dr. Aqeel Khattak termed the immunizations guarantee of a healthy future for children and urged the parents to ensure vaccination of their children so that they can be protected from diseases.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), “it works with countries across the globe to raise awareness of the value of vaccines and immunization and ensures that governments obtain the necessary guidance and technical support to implement high-quality immunization programmes”.
“The ultimate goal of World Immunization Week is for more people – and their communities – to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases”, WHO stated, adding that “Immunization is a global health and development success story, saving millions of lives every year.
Vaccines reduce risks of getting a disease by working with your body’s natural defenses to build protection. When you get a vaccine, your immune system responds”, pronounces WHO.
WHO proclaims “We now have vaccines to prevent more than 20 life-threatening diseases, helping people of all ages live longer, healthier lives. Immunization currently prevents 3.5-5 million deaths every year from diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, influenza and measles”.
Mentioning the immunization, WHO further describes “Immunization is a key component of primary health care and an indisputable human right. It’s also one of the best health investments money can buy.
Vaccines are also critical to the prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks. They underpin global health security and will be a vital tool in the battle against antimicrobial resistance”.
It is worth mentioning here that the “Expanded Programme on Immunization” (EPI) was launched in Pakistan in 1978 to protect children by immunizing them against childhood tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and measles.
Later, with the support of development partners, a number of new vaccines e.g. hepatitis B, hemophilic influenza type b (Hib) and pneumococcal vaccine (PCV10) were introduced in 2002, 2009 and 2012, and inactivated polio vaccine in 2015, respectively.
