Sindh vows full vaccine coverage again

Health minister joins World Immunisation Week celebrations; routine immunisation hits 80%

IV Report

KARACHI: The Sindh government reaffirmed its commitment to universal child immunisation as Provincial Minister for Health and Population Welfare Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho joined World Immunisation Week 2026 celebrations at SMB Fatima Jinnah Government Girls School on Tuesday.

The provincial event, held during the global observance from April 24 to 30, was organised by the Sindh Health Department and the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Sindh, in collaboration with UNICEF, the World Health Organisation, EOC Sindh, AMAN, and other core EPI partners.

Provincial Minister for Health led the event, stressing that immunisation is “a fundamental right of every child” and “a shared responsibility to ensure that no child is left unprotected.”

“Vaccines are our strongest shield against disability and death. Our mission is to ensure that every child in Sindh — whether living in the high-rise buildings of Karachi or in a remote village of Tharparkar — is protected from preventable diseases,” Dr Pechuho said in her address.

Key officials in attendance included Health Secretary Tahir Hussain Sanghi, EPI Project Director Dr Raj Kumar, Additional Project Director Dr Sohail Raza Shaikh, and EOC Coordinator Shahryar Gul.

Citing progress under EPI Sindh, Dr Pechuho said routine immunisation coverage had reached a historic 80%, with Penta-1 coverage exceeding 95% and BCG coverage surpassing 90%. Vaccination services are now directly accessible to 91% of Sindh’s population, she added.

To reach zero-dose children, birth doses are being administered immediately after delivery in major hospitals. Vaccination centers have also extended timings to evenings and weekends to facilitate working parents. Basic nutrition is being integrated with vaccination to support child development, officials said.

The minister announced a major Polio Booster Campaign scheduled from May 11 to May 24, 2026, urging schools, community leaders, and parents to support the drive with the same momentum seen during Immunisation Week.

All vaccines are provided free of cost by the government, Dr Pechuho noted, but said the “responsibility ultimately lies with guardians.” She called on parents and teachers to become “vaccine champions” to help eliminate measles, polio, and pneumonia.

Officials added that with the introduction of the HPV vaccine into routine immunisation, Sindh is further expanding preventive healthcare for future generations.

Photos source: Sindh Health Deprtment