EPI Sindh holds briefing on routine immunization and upcoming MR, OPV campaigns

EPI Sindh organizes briefing on routine immunization, upcoming campaigns

KARACHI: The Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) Sindh hosted an important Orientation and Journalists’ Briefing Session on Routine Immunization (RI) and the upcoming Measles-Rubella (MR) and Polio (OPV) campaigns for 2025. The event took place at a hotel in Karachi, and was held in collaboration with UNICEF.

The briefing was chaired by Dr. Sohail Raza Shaikh, Additional Project Director at EPI Sindh, and included several key health experts and representatives from UNICEF, WHO, and Gavi, among others. The session was designed to inform and engage media professionals on the importance of routine immunization and the critical role of the upcoming vaccination campaigns in protecting children across Sindh.

Key speakers and session highlights

The session featured prominent speakers, including:

• Prof. Ali Murtaza Goya, National Immunization Advisor
• Dr. Saadullah Chachar, Federal EPI Representative
• Dr. Khalid Shafi, Chair of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG)
• Dr. Zaid Bin Arif, Immunization Officer, UNICEF Sindh
• Dr. Ramesh Kumar, Representative, WHO
• Dr. Mehboob, Provincial Surveillance Officer, EPI Sindh
• Dr. Arslan Memon, Monitoring & Evaluation Officer, EPI Sindh

Agenda highlights

The meeting covered several crucial topics, including:

• Routine Immunization in Sindh – Progress, Challenges, and Strategies by Dr. Arslan Memon
• Measles-Rubella (MR) Campaign 2025 – Operational Overview by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (WHO)
• Communication & Community Engagement Strategy by Dr. Zaid Bin Arif (UNICEF Sindh)
• Role of Media in Supporting Routine Immunization & Campaign Coverage by Dr. Sohail Raza Shaikh and Dr. Khalid Shafi (NITAG)

Importance of media collaboration

Dr. Sohail Raza Shaikh emphasized the pivotal role of media in shaping public awareness and countering vaccine misinformation. The briefing underscored the collective responsibility to ensure that every child in Sindh is vaccinated and protected. Media professionals were urged to support the campaign by engaging the public through print, digital, and electronic platforms.

Campaign preparations and goals

The upcoming MR + OPV Campaign is scheduled from November 17–29, 2025, and will target millions of children across Sindh. EPI Sindh, in collaboration with UNICEF, WHO, and Gavi, aims to achieve comprehensive coverage and ensure that no child is left behind in the vaccination drive.

Call to action

The briefing concluded with an open discussion on the challenges of immunization in Sindh and the collective strategies needed to improve vaccine coverage. Dr. Shaikh thanked the organizers and media partners for their ongoing support in these critical public health efforts.

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