World Immunization Week 2025 event at Karwan-e-Hayat
KARACHI: A special World Immunization Week event was held at Karwan-e-Hayat, Kemari, Karachi, today, organized by the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Sindh in collaboration with UNICEF. The event brought together health professionals, government officials, and community leaders to raise awareness about the importance of immunization in protecting public health. With an aim to improve immunization rates across Sindh, this event was part of global efforts to mark the ongoing World Immunization Week 2025.
Dr. Azra Pechuho highlights immunization efforts in Sindh
Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Sindh Minister for Health, delivered a powerful speech recognizing the efforts of the EPI team in improving immunization coverage in Sindh. She acknowledged the third-party assessment, which reported a 70% immunization coverage, and expressed a strong commitment to raise this figure to over 90%. Dr. Pechuho also highlighted the seasonal rise in measles cases and reassured the public that vigorous case-response activities are underway to combat the outbreak.
Big Catch-Up Campaign and key interventions
Dr. Pechuho shared the progress of the Big Catch-Up Campaign, noting that over 1.8 million children had been vaccinated in two rounds. This initiative aims to vaccinate children up to five years old, ensuring no child is left behind. She also emphasized key interventions, including the hiring of new vaccinators, provision of PSO fuel cards, and increased outreach to improve vaccination coverage across the region.
EPI Sindh’s progress in improving vaccination coverage
Dr. Raj Kumar, Program Director EPI Sindh, also spoke at the event, sharing significant strides made in the province. He highlighted that over 7 million children were vaccinated last year and noted the introduction of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in schools. Digital tools like the Sindh Electronic Immunization Registry (SEIR) have also been instrumental in tracking immunization progress and closing gaps in vaccination coverage.
Global impact of vaccination
Dr. Pechuho urged parents to complete their children's vaccination schedules and called on the media to amplify immunization messages during World Immunization Week. As the event concluded, Dr. Sohail Raza Shaikh, Additional Director EPI Sindh, thanked the attendees and emphasized the vital role vaccines play in safeguarding public health.
Conclusion
This event is just one of many initiatives taking place across the globe as part of World Immunization Week 2025. With vaccines saving 6 lives every minute since 1974, it’s crucial to continue building on this progress and ensure all children, adolescents, and adults are protected from preventable diseases. As we observe World Immunization Week, it’s a reminder of the ongoing work needed to ensure that immunization for all is humanly possible.