Over 4,000 vaccination teams deployed province-wide to implement the 12-day campaign
DLP Report
PESHAWAR
The Directorate General Health Services, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has officially launched the “Big Catch-Up” Vaccination Campaign to immunize children under the age of five against 12 life-threatening diseases across the province.
The campaign was inaugurated at Molvi Jee Hospital, Peshawar by Dr. Muhammad Saleem Khan, Director General Health Services, and Dr. Asghar Khan, Director of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), in the presence of representatives from UNICEF, WHO, GAVI, and other partner organizations.
Dr. Saleem Khan urged parents to ensure their children receive timely vaccinations. “This campaign, running from July 14 to 25, targets nearly 700,000 children who missed routine immunizations. Vaccination remains the most effective way to protect our children from deadly diseases,” he stated.
Dr. Asghar Khan informed that over 4,000 vaccination teams have been deployed province-wide to implement the 12-day campaign. “Our focus is to reach children who were previously left out of immunization efforts. This will not only enhance their immunity but also help prevent the spread of contagious diseases,” he said.
Highlighting the urgency of the drive, Dr. Khan shared that so far this year, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported over 3,000 measles cases and 219 diphtheria cases. He assured the public that there is no shortage of diphtheria vaccines and that the Health Department has sufficient stocks.
He also noted the success of the previous campaign, during which more than 500,000 children were vaccinated across the province. Dr. Khan called on parents and caregivers to cooperate fully with health workers for the health and safety of their children.
The Big Catch-Up campaign is part of the provincial government’s broader public health strategy aimed at closing immunization gaps, reducing child mortality, and strengthening healthcare infrastructure
