Measles vaccination drive continues:Over 2 million children immunized all over Balochistan Health Department dispels impression that vaccine being used in anti-measles drive is of sub-standard or expired; pediatricians urge parents to ensure immunization of their children

  • April 23, 2015, 11:43 am
  • Breaking News
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HQ City Report

QUETTA: The anti-measles campaign entered 12th day in Balochistan as over 2 million children up to 10 years have so far been vaccinated against the measles disease in the province.
According to the sources of Provincial Health Department, the campaign would remain continued till April 25, 2015.
The Department also dispelled the impression that the vaccine being used in the anti-measles campaign is of sub-standard or expired or that purchase of the vaccine has been done by the Health Department. This impression is absolutely wrong and baseless, the departed made it clear.
The fact of matter is that the measles vaccine is testified by the World Health Organization (WHO), which has been provided by the UNICEF to Balochistan as well as other provinces of the country after purchasing it from a vaccine producing international company.
This vaccine has so far been administered to over 50 million children all over the country including 2 million children in Balochistan. This vaccine is not only effective as per the world standards, but it is also fully safe, a communiqué issued by the provincial Health Department mentioned further.
The healthy future of our over 3.5 million children is associated with the ongoing anti-measles campaign in the province.
So, the parents, religious leaders, political and tribal elders, civil society, teachers and particularly the Principals, Head masters and Head mistresses have been appealed to play their role in making the anti-measles campaign successful.
It may be mentioned here that the anti-measles campaign had been launched on April 13 all over the province including Quetta district.
Meanwhile, the President of Pakistan Pediatric Association Balochistan and renowned pediatrician, Dr. Bashir Ahmed Abro, Vice President, Dr. Attaullah Bizenjo and General Secretary, Dr. Tahir Zehri have underlined the need to carry on the ant-measles campaign in the province.
In their statement, the pediatricians said that some circles are opposing the campaign, which is not fair. They urged the parents to ensure vaccination of their children against the measles. Dr. Bashir and other pediatricians also dispelled the impression that the vaccine being used in the anti-measles drive is harmful.
It is not the case and as such the parents should not be reluctant to get their children vaccinated against the measles, they stressed. They also mentioned that millions of children have so far been administered anti-measles vaccine during the ongoing campaign in the province and other parts of the country.