HYDERABAD: Amidst reports of shortage in vaccine supply, the three-day anti-polio vaccination campaign began here on Monday as part of the National Immunisation Days (NID).

The Sindh health authorities plans to vaccinate 7.4 million children below five years of age.

There are some complaints about quality of markers being used for registering number of household is substandard.

According to Sindh Director General Health Services Dr Hafeez Memon, the vaccine dozes might not meet vaccination requirement on the third day of campaign i.e., Oct 1. It had been communicated to the WHO, he said, adding that out of 7.4 million, 1.4 million children were one year old.

The vaccine to districts is supplied by the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) of the Sindh health department after receiving it through the WHO authorities. Polio vaccine is then sent to divisional headquarters wherefrom district health managements get their dozes. Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas divisions health officers collect their vaccine from Sir Cowasjee Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry where the cold storage has been established, according to the Sindh EPI chief, whereas Sukkur and Larkana divisions collect it from their established points.

Sindh EPI project director Dr Mazhar Khamisani denied shortage of vaccine during the campaign. He said vaccine was supplied as per required dozes after calculating 12 per cent normal wastage. “We have informed those few districts which are complaining about shortage that their dozes are complete, including percentage of wastage. If still they are facing shortage then it indicates that their wastage is more than what is allowed by the WHO,” he said.

He disclosed that eight million dozes were provided for this campaign to the district health authorities whereas 7.4 million children were to be immunized.

He further said the same wastage ratio was being worked at 15 to 20 per cent by some districts, including Shaheed Benazirabad and Thatta. Their health administrations had been informed clearly that the desired dozes were made available and they had to control their wastage from exceeding, he added.

According to the DG health, vaccination’s availability might be affected to some extent on the third day of campaign due to shortage. “I’ve informed the WHO authorities and they have admitted that some shortage might be seen on the last day of immunisation campaign,” he said.

He added that even if EPI’s figures of eight million vaccines’ dozes for 7.4 million children were to be believed, they clearly showed shortage of around 300,000 dozes if 12 per cent wastage was permissible.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad Police DIG Dr Sanaullah Abbasi presided over a meeting to oversee security arrangements. He emphasised the need for ensuring proper security cover and added that targeted population of 2,150,913 in Hyderabad region should be covered properly. He urged SSPs to review security arrangement in their areas.

The SP Headquarters Hyderabad was directed to maintain close coordination with district focal persons and other stakeholders.

The meeting reviewed security arrangements in the union councils of 10, 12, 16 and Hyderabad city where cases of refusal were reported due to some specific religious thoughts.

About 4,612 fixed transit and outreach teams would take part in the campaign and around 1,650 police personnel are engaged in security duties in Hyderabad range in current campaign.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad divisional commissioner Asif Hyder Shah visited Tando Allahyar to monitor vaccination campaign. WHO representative Dr Sharifa and other officials accompanied him.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2014