QUETTA: A 12-day vaccination campaign to control the spread of typhoid was kicked off in the city on Tuesday.

According to Quetta District Health Officer Noor Bakhsh Bizenjo, 856,000 children between the ages of nine and 15 years will be vaccinated against typhoid in 39 urban union councils in the first phase.

This was revealed by Mr Bizenjo in a consultation meeting organised by PHC Global, which was attended by National Stop Officer Farhana Naz, National Stop Officer EPI Division Task Force Dr Farhan Anjum, PHC Global District Coordinator Fahad Ali Kayani, Town Coordinator Samia Tareen and social worker Sakina Abdullah.

The session was told that the type of typhoid in Pakistan could not be cured by medicines, but it was possible to prevent it with a vaccine.

Initially, this vaccine will be administered in the urban union councils of Balochistan. Later, its scope will be expanded to the entire province for which the services of polio teams will be obtained. PHC Global will conduct the campaign in Lasbela, Kech, Jafferabad and Quetta districts along with the provincial government.

Noor Bakhsh Bizenjo said there were no side effects of the vaccine, adding that vaccination against typhoid would be included in the national programme for immunisation.

Calling the vaccine “an extraordinary development”, he said it would allow people to take preventive measures against the disease.

He also urged all stakeholders, civil society and the media to play their roles in raising awareness against typhoid.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2022