The coverage for the Measles-Containing Vaccine (MCV-I) among children aged 9–12 months reached 84% in 2023, leaving approximately 1,056,000 children unvaccinated. Similarly, the MCV-II coverage for children aged 18 months to 5 years has remained constant in 2023 at 80%. These figures are concerning, especially given the highly contagious nature of measles, with a basic reproduction model for measles (R₀) of 12–18. This means each person with measles can, on average, infect 12–18 others in a susceptible population.
Despite the availability of vaccines, measles outbreaks have led to hundreds of preventable child deaths, as reported in print and electronic media. However, Pakistan’s Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) and the Department of Health (DoH) have shown reluctance to maintain a transparent record of measles-related mortality data. This lack of accountability hinders comprehensive policy-making and public health interventions.
Vaccine-preventable disease deaths make up almost half of the deaths in children under five years in Pakistan, moreover, malnourished children are especially at risk of severe complications and deaths.
Vaccine-preventable disease deaths remain a significant contributor to child mortality, accounting for nearly half of all deaths in children under five in Pakistan. Measles, in particular, is a deadly threat to malnourished children, who are at heightened risk of severe complications. Pneumonia, encephalitis, and croup (laryngotracheobronchitis) are the leading causes of measles-related mortality in children.
Has the flood devastation of the year 2022 still shown an impact on the restoration of essential immunization services in the affected areas? However, few research papers have attributed to it.
Furthermore, the staggering number of unvaccinated children, 40 million in 2020-raises critical questions about the Government of Pakistan and key stakeholders’ efforts to address these gaps.
I am also certain that the ongoing hazardous level of air pollution in Punjab has likely exacerbated the challenges faced by immunization services, hindering access to healthcare facilities and reducing vaccination coverage in the targeted area.
From my field experience, I have observed that the demand for measles vaccination is notably high among parents, caregivers, and communities. This heightened demand stems from the severe nature of the disease and its associated child mortality, emphasizing the critical need for robust vaccination campaigns and increased public awareness initiatives.
