KARACHI, May 16: Immunization programmes are currently registered to reach about 80 percent of the world’s infants each year, with millions of kids with inadequate vitamin A stores denied of its supplementation.

A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report claims that many of those not receiving vitamin A supplementation are those who are in routine contact with health facilities which provide immunization services.

An estimated 880,000 to 136 million infants and young children are stated to lose their lives to measles each year, though immunization is an effective preventive measure.

With vitamin A supplementation measles related mortality rates could be reduced by half and eye damage could also be largely prevented even in areas where vitamin A deficiency is not considered a serious problem.

“Not every child is reached by immunization services,” the report said adding that “often those in need have the lowest coverage.”

In countries including Pakistan, where VAD is a public health problem, parents often do not take the children to the services offered. The Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) has adopted special strategies to overcome these hurdles using both routine and supplementary immunization contacts to reach the “hard to reach”.

It is with the belief that if EPI vaccines can reach virtually every child so can vitamin A supplementation. The WHO and UNICEF consultation groups jointly recommend that in all countries where VAD is a public health problem vitamin A supplementation should be integrated with immunization programmes.—APP