‘Rotavirus Vaccine;’ Launched in Sindh

KARACHI- The Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), Sindh has introduced Rotavirus Vaccine in routine immunization schedule of the EPI, in a ceremony held at EPI Office on Friday, 30^th March ‘2018.

Sindh Secretary Health Dr. Fazlullah Pechuho, administrated the rotavirus vaccine to children and announced induction of vaccine in routine immunization. He said that Diarrhea is a leading cause of death in children. Statistics show that in Sindh, around 50% deaths in children below the age of five, occur due to diarrhea and other related gastroenteritis diseases.

He stated that, inclusion of rotavirus vaccine in routine immunization schedule will significantly reduce the burden of this common yet deadly disease amongst children, under the age of five. He further informed that rotavirus is the 10th vaccine, which was launched by EPI in the province of Sindh.

Coordinator, Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for Polio, Sindh, Mr. Fayaz Jatoi, stated that cancer cases were being reported in the world due to wrong administration of vaccine but, it is not right to avoid vaccinations, entirely. He explained that human error leads to death of a child but, vaccinations save thousands of lives annually. He advised all the parents to vaccinate their children, who are currently under the age of five, to combat all such diseases.

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 were present at this ceremony, to introduce this vaccine and spread awareness on the importance of immunization.