Karachi: Minister for Health and Population Welfare, Sindh, Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho and DCM US Embassy Islamabad, Mr. Andrew Schofer inaugurated the campaign to vaccinate children aged 5 to 11 in Sindh. Representatives from WHO, UNICEF, Pediatric Association, EPI and EOC were also in attendance.
The campaign will continue from the 19th of September till the 24th and will target 2.4 million children in the first round. In Sindh the total urban population in this age group is 3.6 million and the overall number of children between 5 – 11 years is 6 million. Due to their mainly being incidences of Covid in children in Karachi, the first phase of the campaign will be focusing on Karachi districts mainly.
Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho said that schools will be the main site for vaccinating children, SOPs to accommodate them have been provided. These include the special smaller dose for the Covid vaccine, insulin syringes (that are thinner and less painful than regular syringes), ensuring that children are vaccinated one by one and that AEFI is closely monitored. The number of HR engaged in this campaign is 16,000.
She said that to avoid refusals from parents, the education department and the pediatric association has conducted awareness campaigns to sensitize the parents and inform them of the need to vaccinate their children and protect them from Covid.
There are a total of 4,371 Teams, with 3 people in each team, 3,804 outreach teams, 536 fixed centre teams, 31 mobile teams, 255 AEFI Focal persons, 874 1st level supervisors, 58 second level supervisors, and 29 data entry operators.
Mr. Schofer informed the meeting that there are 8 million doses of the pediatric Covid vaccine dose and 8 million more doses will be arriving in October.
Sindh Health Minister added that Pfizer vaccine has been studied extensively and numerous trials with its adult and child vaccine had been carried out so it is a safe and reliable vaccine that is integral for the protection of the children against Covid.
Dr. Azra Pechuho also reminded the meeting that 1122 is the helpline through which one could be informed of regular updates on which hospital has bed availability for which disease.