KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Health and Population Welfare Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho met with steering committee on Covid-19 vaccines being administered to children aged between 5 -11 years. Secretary Health Zulfiqar Shah, Parliamentary Secretary Health Qasim Siraj Soomro, Dr. Sara Salman, World Health Organisation representative, Head of EPI Sindh and Dr. Irshad Memon attended meeting.

Meeting was informed of strategy to administer paediatric vaccine doses for Covid among children aged 5 to 11 years. Campaign will begin on September 19 and go on till September 24, 2022.  Meetings of all sub committees at provincial and district levels are ongoing and a provincial steering committee on plan of action for campaign will be held twice a month. District level Micro Planning and Operational Workshops as well as training is being be conducted till August 31.  Provincial Monitors is visiting sites to verify HR, Vaccines, Recording reporting tools, IEC Material etc from till September 3. Doctors will also be oriented on AEFI management for paediatric covid vaccine on September 12 and communication material will be provided to districts on September 8.  Sites included Karachi Central, East, Korangi, Malir, Karachi South, West, Kemari and Hyderabad. To cover 70 percent of children in these high prevalence districts 3,413,884 of paediatric doses of Covid vaccine will be administered in phases. First million doses will be administered in Karachi. 

Technical assistants at sites of vaccine administration will record name, age, gender, Form-B ID of inoculated child as well as CNIC and contact number of parent/guardian accompanying child.  Dr. Azra Pechuho said that aside from schools, marketplaces and parks should be aimed at for ensuring most number of children get first dose of paediatric Covid vaccine.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 31 2022

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