KARACHI: The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), Sindh has introduced rotavirus vaccine in routine immunisation schedule of the EPI in a ceremony held at EPI Office on Friday.
Sindh Secretary Health Dr Fazlullah Pechuho administrated the rotavirus vaccine to children and announced induction of vaccine in routine immunisation. He said diarrhea is leading cause of death in children, while 50 per cent deaths in children below five in Sindh are caused by diarrhea and its related gastroenteritis diseases.
He said inclusion of rotavirus vaccine in routine immunisation schedule will significantly reduce the burden of disease amongst children under five. He further informed that rotavirus is 10th vaccine which was launched by EPI in Sindh province.
Coordinator, Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for Polio Sindh Fayaz Jaoti, said cancer cases were being reported in the world due to wrong administration of vaccine but it is not right to avoid vaccination. He explained that human error leads to death of a child but vaccination saved thousands of lives annually.
He advised the parents to vaccinate their children under five year age.
Manager EPI Sindh Dr Agha Ishfaq, Director General Health Dr Akhlaq Ahmed Khan, Director Health Karachi Dr Tahir Aziz Sheikh, Prof Jamal Raza, Dr Khalid Shafi, Manager Nutrition program Dr Zahoor Baloch, Dr Iqbal Chandio, Aziz Memon, Shareefa Akhter, Dr Sohail Soomro, Abid Hasan and others.