ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has the highest infant mortality rate (IMR) in South Asia mainly because of the low immunisation and vaccination coverage. With about 56pc coverage, almost half of the children in the country are not immunised.

This was stated by Pakistan Paediatric Association (PPA) President Prof Dr Rai Mohammad Asghar at a media briefing held in connection with the World Immunisation Day at a local hotel on Saturday.

Prof Asghar said immunisation was the most successful tool for controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious diseases so it was necessary to increase the reach of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI).

“With the inclusion of rotavirus vaccine in the EPI, the government is giving protection to children against 10 deadly diseases. It is the responsibility of the parents to bring their children to the EPI centres and get them vaccinated. Increasing the coverage to 80pc can reduce the infant mortality rate,” Prof Asghar said.

Though all vaccines are available free of cost, almost half of children are not immunised, says Pakistan Paediatric Association president

Vaccines protect children by making their bodies strong and capable to fight against diseases.

A number of infectious diseases which were common around the globe such as smallpox, polio, measles, mumps, tetanus, etc., could be controlled through vaccines.

In reply to a question, Prof Asghar said every year 1.2 million children under the age of five died of pneumonia around the world, which was more than the collective deaths from Aids, malaria and tuberculosis.

“Rotavirus gastroenteritis is estimated to cause more than half a million child deaths. Two billion people are infected with hepatitis B virus and about 780,000 people die of it. All of these can be prevented through vaccination and immunisation,” he said.

To another question, Prof Asghar said though all the vaccines were available free of cost, the citizens should remember that if the cold chain of the vaccine is not maintained its colour turns black and the vaccine expires.

“Most of the vaccines are manufactured abroad and the donors do not compromise on the quality of vaccines. Once a child is vaccinated they are 100pc protected. Moreover, mothers should breastfeed their babies for at least six months because it increases the immunity level,” he said.

He said there were only 5,000 child specialists in the country which was not sufficient for the population of over 200 million. Despite this, doctors should provide awareness in their respective areas.

“It is unfortunate that we have vaccines in the country but it is not administered to children,” he said.

The head of the Department Pediatrics at the Islamic International Medical College, Prof Dr Samiya Naeemullah, said measles vaccination resulted in a 75pc drop in death from the disease between 2000 and 2013 worldwide while illnesses and complications caused by influenza can be reduced by up to 60pc and deaths by 80pc in the elderly patients.

“Polio cases have reduced by 99pc from over 300,000 per year in 1988 to less than 650 cases in 2011. Smallpox has been eradicated globally in a time span of 10 years,” she said.

She suggested promoting awareness among parents about the importance of vaccination.

Despite the availability of free vaccines, the coverage is very low. A lack of awareness and socio-cultural barriers are the biggest reason to it, she said.

“The media is the only force which can create mass level awareness and help protect our children from deadly diseases,” she said.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2017