Azra Pechuho, Andrew Schofer inaugurates children vaccine in Islamabad

KARACHI: Azra Fazal Pechuho, Minister for Health and Population Welfare, Sindh, and Mr Andrew Schofer, DCM US Embassy Islamabad, inaugurated the campaign to vaccinate children aged 5 to 11 in Sindh. 

WHO, UNICEF, Paediatric Association, EPI, and EOC representatives were also present.

The campaign will run from the 19th to the 24th of September and initially target 2,4 million children. In Sindh, the entire urban population between 5 and 11 years old is 3,6 million, while the total number of children between 5 and 11 years old is 6 million. 

Due to the prevalence of covid among youngsters in Karachi, the campaign's initial phase will concentrate on the districts of Karachi.

Azra Fazal Pechuho stated that schools would be the primary location for vaccinating children, and SOPs had been developed to facilitate this. 
These include the specific reduced dose for the covid vaccine, insulin syringes (thinner and less painful than conventional needles), ensuring that children are vaccinated individually, and constantly monitoring AEFI. There are 16,000 HR personnel working in this programme.

She stated that to prevent parental rejection, the education department and the paediatric association have organised efforts to remind parents of the necessity to vaccinate their children to protect them against covid.

There are a total of 4371 Teams, each consisting of three individuals, 3804 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 Andrew Schofer informed the meeting that there are 8 million doses of the paediatric covid vaccine, and 8 million more doses will be arriving in October. 

Azra Fazal Pechuho added that the Pfizer vaccine had 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 children against covid.