PESHAWAR: The Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) of health department on Monday launched 12 days province-wide vaccination campaign to protect children from measles and rubella (MR).

The inaugural ceremony was attended by Health Minister Khaleequr Rehman, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Special Assistant to Chief Minister for Information Shafiullah Jan, Information Secretary Bakhtiar Khan, Director General Health Dr Shahid Yunis, EPI Director Dr Asghar Khan, Unicef health team lead Dr Inamullah Khan, Director General Information Imran Khan and others.

The campaign will be run across the province from 17 to 29 November, targeting all children aging six months to five years for measles and rubella vaccine. The provincial target is to vaccinate 6.4 million children and achieve at least 95 per cent coverage, according to a statement.

A total of 6,509 vaccination teams have been deployed including 1,616 fixed teams, 4,678 outreach teams and 215 mobile teams. All preparations, micro-planning, validation and staff training have been completed. Relevant departments are providing full support to vaccinators in the field.

Shahab Ali Shah said that health sector was one of the top priorities of provincial government. He said that district administrations were making every possible effort to ensure success of the campaign.

He urged parents to cooperate with health teams, noting that no health initiative could achieve its goals without support of people.

Khaleequr Rehman said that several projects were under way to provide quality healthcare services to people. He said that government was extending full support to health department at all levels. He added that success of the campaign was a collective responsibility.

Shahidullah Khan said that reforms were under way in the department. He urged media to play a responsible role so that no child was left unvaccinated.

Dr Asghar Khan said that all preparations for the campaign were completed and the department was committed to ensuring its success.

Dr Inamullah Khan said that it was responsibility of all parents to vaccinate their children.

Shafiullah Jan said that chief minister was taking serious steps to strengthen and modernise health sector.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2025