Nationwide Measles and Rubella vaccination drive to start from Nov 17

A twelve-day nationwide Measles and Rubella vaccination drive will be launched from November 17 to 29 in high-risk districts of the country, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday.
During the campaign, the children will be administered with polio vaccine, besides Rubella and Measles.
The free vaccination will be provided to all the children between six months to five years. The vaccine will be provided to Government Health Centres, madrasas, and ordinary vaccination points.
People are advised to contact Health Protection Helpline 1166, where qualified doctors and staff will guide them accordingly.
Earlier, Coordinator of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Balochistan, Dr Aftab Kakar, announced that a 12-day nationwide Measles and Rubella vaccination drive will be launched from November 17 to 29 across all 36 districts of Balochistan.
He urged parents to ensure that children aged between six months and under five years receive the vaccine to strengthen their immunity and protect them from these life-threatening diseases.
Dr. Kakar revealed that around 1,700 measles cases have been reported in Balochistan so far this year, with 23 confirmed deaths. However, he noted that due to the lack of an effective data collection mechanism, the actual number of cases and fatalities is likely much higher.
Speaking at a seminar held at the Quetta Press Club regarding the role of media in raising public awareness, Dr. Kakar said that community participation and responsible media coverage are vital to safeguarding children’s lives.
He warned that measles is spreading rapidly across the country, including Balochistan, and is more contagious than COVID-19, as a single infected person can transmit it to 8–10 others. “The government has therefore launched this nationwide campaign to vaccinate children aged six months to five years against Measles and Rubella.
Reporter: Babar Shehzad Turk