LAHORE – The Punjab Health Department in collaboration with the UNICEF, GAVI, World Health Organization (WHO) has launched Pneumococcal Vaccine as part of its routine immunisation of EPI Programme in order to save lives of lakhs of young children across the province.
Pakistan is the first country in South Asia to have launched this vaccine. According to the schedule, three doses of vaccine would be injected among the children up to the age of 1 year free of cost, while the market price of this vaccine is more than four thousand.
Addressing the launching ceremony, Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Health, Khawaja Salman Rafique said Pakistan had become the first country in the region to initiate Pneumococcal Vaccine as routine immunization and Punjab has taken lead from other provinces in providing this preventive vaccination to the children.
He thanked the UNICEF, GAVI, World Health Organization (WHO) and other institutions for their cooperation with Punjab government to bringing down mortality rate among the children.
Meanwhile, a 90-member delegation of students from Bolan Medical College Balochistan who are currently visiting the King Edward Medical College University warmly received by Special Assistant o Chief Minister to Health, Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Asad Aslam Khan and faculty members.
The students were taken to various departments and were briefed in detail about the historical background of KEMU, educational activities and development projects by Prof Asad Aslam Khan at newly-constructed Jinnah Auditorium of the university.
Special prayers for the well being of Malala Yousafzai were also offered on the occasion.