LAHORE: In a distressing turn of events, 12 more children have succumbed to pneumonia in the province of Punjab within a 24-hour period. The Punjab Health Department has reported 1,777 new cases of pneumonia within the same time frame, underscoring the urgent need for heightened awareness and preventive measures against this respiratory illness.
The grim statistics reveal that in just 24 days, a staggering 11,597 children have been affected by pneumonia in Punjab, with 251 new cases emerging in Lahore alone within the last 24 hours. Tragically, there have been 220 pneumonia-related deaths in the province over the same 24-day period.
Dr. Mukhtar, Director of Immunization, emphasized the importance of pneumonia vaccination, stating that it provides protection against specific types of pneumonia from birth to one and a half months of age. However, he also noted that the vaccine may not be effective during viral outbreaks. It's worth noting that there is only one pneumonia vaccine available for both children and adults.
Furthermore, Dr. Mukhtar clarified that pneumonia vaccines are not accessible in the general market, and pharmacies cannot import them from abroad without government permission. The government exclusively handles vaccine procurement for children under immunization programs.
This alarming situation calls for collective efforts to raise awareness about pneumonia prevention and vaccination to protect the most vulnerable members of society, our children.