Abdul Rehman.
Expanded program on immunization and its deterioration in Pakistan.
Pak Paed J Jan ;36(1):51-2.

Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) was launched in Pakistan on countrywide basis in 1978. It aims at protecting children by immunizing them against tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis, hepatitis B, Hemophilus influenzae type b, measles, tetanus and also their mothers against tetanus. This program provides more than 97% immunization services in Pakistan through fixed centres as well as through outreach and mobile vaccination sessions. The objectives of the program are to reduce in mortality and morbidity resulting from the eight EPI target diseases by immunizing children of the age 0-11 months and women of child bearing age, to achieve 90% routine immunization coverage of all EPI antigens with at least 80% coverage in every district by 2012, to interrupt polio virus transmission by 2010, to eliminate neonatal tetanus by 2015, to reduce measles mortality by 90% by 2010 as compared to 2000 level and to reduce diphtheria, pertussis and childhood tuberculosis to a minimum level. In spite of all its efforts there is deterioration in achieving polio eradication, measles and neonatal tetanus elimination goals. There were 90 outbreaks of measles in 2011 as compared to 12 in 2010, 81 outbreaks of pertussis in 2011 as compared to no outbreak in 2010 and 22 out breaks of pertussis in 2011 as compared to no out break in 2010 in various parts of the country. There were 198 cases of polio in 2011 as compared to 144 in 2010. EPI has not achieved the target of 90% routine immunization coverage of all EPI antigens.

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