PESHAWAR: The routine immunisation rate in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has gone up from 50pc in November last year to 74pc in February this year, with officials attributing it to team efforts.
“The spike in immunisation against 12 vaccine-preventable childhood ailments has become possible due to the comprehensive and sustained team efforts, which resulted in more coverage by reaching children who were previously inaccessible,” director of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Dr Mehtab Khan told Dawn.
He said the province was on its way to get the 90pc vaccination target by 2027 in line with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Immunisation Roadmap which was spearheaded by chief secretary Shahab Ali Shah with strong monitoring by health secretary Shahidullah Khan and director-general (health services) Dr Shaheen Afridi.
“There were many reasons for the parents’ vaccination reluctance, mostly due to misconceptions, but we deployed social mobilisers who ensured the inoculation of children for their protection against diseases,” he said.
EPI chief says immunisation only way to reduce burden of diseases
The EPI chief said that the programme had engaged over 4000 health workers for giving polio vaccine jabs to children during “outreach activities” as well in 1,875 fixed centres located in government and private hospitals.
He said backed by strong leadership, digital innovation and improved service delivery, the province continued to make progress in protecting children with life-saving vaccines.
“We still have to go a long way to ensure that every kid receives vaccines and stays healthy,” he said.
Dr Khan said support by Gavi, the vaccine alliance and other international organisations remained vital in the fight against diseases, which were totally preventable through vaccination.
He said that last year, the EPI vaccinated 96 per cent of the targeted children against measles-rubella through a 12-day campaign.
The EPI chief said in 2025, 25 children died of measles in the province, mostly because of non-vaccination, but the subsequent immunisation drive was a step towards protection of children from the ailment that was avoidable through vaccination.
He said measles had been infecting and killing children every year in the province as non-vaccination was the only reason.
“Not only deaths but measles infected 4,705 people, while the suspected cases totaled 12,800. Most of the infected children were unimmunised or partially immunised. Full immunization ensured full protection,” he said.
Dr Khan said the outreach vaccination activities continued in the areas where children couldn’t come to the EPI centres. He said meetings took place on a weekly basis to discuss where issues were discussed and resolved on the spot.
The official said some children were not available when vaccinators visited their houses, while others couldn’t be inoculated due to their illnesses.
He, however, said EPI teams ensured their vaccinations afterward.
“We have taken on board the education department and community elders who played very positive roles due to which parents got their children vaccinated,” he said.
Dr Khan said unimmunised children were exposed to childhood ailments as viruses could hit them. He said vaccination was the only way to reduce the burden of diseases.
“Around the world, developed countries have reduced childhood ailments through vaccination,” he said.
Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2026.
