LAHORE: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Health Dr Asif Khan has urged the parents not to pay heed to misinformation and rumours regarding polio vaccination.
He emphasised that the fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine (fIPV) being administered to children aged four months to 15 years in 122 union councils of Lahore is a booster dose aimed at strengthening immunity in response to the continued circulation of the virus.
Speaking to the media, Dr Asif highlighted that the polio vaccine is already part of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). He explained that the additional fractional dose is being provided as part of ongoing efforts to reinforce immunity levels among children in high-risk areas. He stressed the need for effective information management to counter negative propaganda and to ensure that parents receive accurate guidance about the safety and importance of vaccination.
Dr Asif noted that there are over 4,500 schools located across the targeted union councils and acknowledged potential challenges in reaching every school despite the department’s extensive efforts to sensitise parents about the campaign.
Agreeing with recommendations from private school representatives and the CEO Education, Dr Asif announced that senior doctors will visit selected schools on Friday (tomorrow) to engage with parents, address concerns, and provide clarity on the vaccination process.
Representatives of private schools termed polio eradication a national cause and appealed to parents to extend full cooperation to polio teams visiting schools. They reiterated their commitment to supporting government-led efforts and called on parents to ensure their children receive the fIPV booster dose without hesitation.
He said that the campaign will continue until November 12. “The polio programme continued to emphasise that every child must be protected from the crippling disease, and community support remains vital to achieving eradication goals”.
PIMA concerned over hike in drugs prices
Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) expressed its concern over an unprecedented hike in prices of essential medicines over the last one year since the deragulatory policy was implemented. The significant increase in the cost of essential and commonly used medicines has placed an unbearable financial burden on patients, making even basic treatment unaffordable for them.
Prof Atif Hafeez Siddiqui, Central President of PIMA, stated that this situation is alarming given Pakistan’s chronically underfunded health sector, where less than one percent of the GDP is allocated to healthcare. The combination of scarce public health resources and skyrocketing medicine prices has restricted access to essential care.
He demanded the government take action in the public interest. While investment and local manufacturing are important goals, they must not come at the expense of patients’ well-being.
PIMA called for a comprehensive review of the deregulation framework and the introduction of effective mechanisms to ensure both affordability and availability of essential medicines across the country.
Published in The NEWS on November 6, 2025.
