LAHORE: Punjab is set to initiate its most extensive catch-up vaccination campaign to date, according to Dr. Ilyas Gondal, Director General of Punjab Health Services. This initiative aims to provide routine vaccinations to all children up to five years old who have missed their doses for various reasons.
Dr Gondal announced the plan during the quarterly review meeting of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), supported by the World Health Organization (WHO). He explained that the EPI program covers vaccinations for 12 diseases for children from birth to two years old.
The new WHO-supported campaign, called ‘Big Catch Up,’ is designed to reach children over two years old who have missed their vaccinations, ensuring they receive their immunizations beyond the usual age limits. “We have a significant number of children aged two to five who have missed their routine vaccinations. We are thankful to the WHO for their support and resources to address this issue and work towards a disease-free Pakistan,” Dr Gondal stated.
The review meeting, chaired by Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Director of EPI Punjab, was held at the direction of Khawaja Imran Nazir, Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare. It included District Health Officers – Preventive Services, District Surveillance Coordinators, and District Superintendents of Vaccination from all 36 districts, along with representatives from EPI Punjab, UNICEF, BMGF, and University Public Health interns.
Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed highlighted that many missed vaccinations were reported in five major urban districts: Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, and Multan. He noted that the Chief Minister’s Clinic on Wheels initiative was targeting underserved urban areas to ensure comprehensive vaccination coverage. Despite a reduction in measles cases, targeted responses continue in high-risk areas of Lahore and Rawalpindi.
The ‘Big Catch Up’ campaign is part of a global effort to address vaccination gaps exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to restore global immunization rates and strengthen vaccination systems. WHO Technical Officer Dr. Imran Qureshi led discussions on overcoming challenges and planning future steps based on data analysis.
