Abstract
Infectious diseases are the leading cause of significant
childhood morbidity and mortality, especially in
developing countries like Pakistan. About 50% of the
deaths among children in Pakistan are due to
pneumonia, diarrhea and measles, all vaccine
preventable diseases.
1 According to WHO, 2 to 3
million deaths occur each year, which can be prevented
by immunization and approximately 1.5 million of these
deaths occur in children under 5 years of age.
2
Immunization is at the top of the list among the health
prevention measures that have significantly reduced the
childhood mortality and morbidity. Expanded Program
of Immunization (EPI) was initiated in Pakistan in 1978.
It began with vaccinating children against tuberculosis,
poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and measles.
Hepatitis B vaccine was added to the program in 2002.
Program was further augmented by addition of
Haemophilus influenza (2009), pneumococcal (2012)
and rota virus vaccine (2018).
3
