Sindh launches third round of ‘big catch-up’ immunisation drive targeting 1.5 million children.

The Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) in Sindh launched the third round of its province-wide ‘Big Catch-up’ campaign on Monday, aiming to vaccinate 1.5 million children, primarily those aged two to five years, who missed routine immunisations.

Originally scheduled for July 14, the campaign was postponed due to monsoon warnings and heavy rain forecasts across several districts. It will now run for the next 24 days, covering 1,128 union councils across the province.

Massive Human Resource Deployment

The campaign involves a large-scale mobilisation of personnel:

3,650 vaccinators
3,650 team assistants
7,300 social mobilisers (two per team)
921 first-level field supervisors
130 tehsil-level supervisors
120 district data entry operators

Focus on Reversing Pandemic-Induced Setbacks

Officials emphasised the drive’s importance in reversing the decline in childhood immunisation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Challenges like overburdened health systems, closed clinics, and disrupted vaccine supply chains have left a significant gap in coverage.

Vaccine hesitancy also remains a pressing issue, contributing to low immunisation rates in many areas.

“This campaign is a crucial step towards achieving universal immunisation coverage in Sindh, ensuring that no child is left behind due to missed vaccinations,” said an EPI official. “It will help reduce child mortality and morbidity and strengthen the province’s public health system.”

Alarming Rise in Preventable Diseases

The urgency of the campaign is underscored by a sharp rise in vaccine-preventable diseases in Sindh:

In 2024, 132 children died of measles, with over 13,000 suspected cases and 6,670 confirmed cases. A total of 149 outbreaks were reported, including 18 in Karachi alone.
The province also recorded 40 diphtheria-related deaths, with outbreaks in three Karachi districts, Larkana, and Dadu.