Pakistan’s Vaccination Efforts Save Millions of Lives Over Decades: WHO
As World Immunisation Week begins, the World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted Pakistan’s long-standing progress in vaccination, noting that millions of lives have been protected through sustained immunisation efforts.
According to WHO, Pakistan has vaccinated over 160 million children and 130 million mothers since the launch of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) in 1978. These efforts have helped prevent an estimated 2.6 million child deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Major Health Achievements
Pakistan achieved a key milestone by eliminating smallpox in 1976, paving the way for expanded immunisation coverage. Since 1994, the country has reduced paralytic polio cases by 99.8% through continued vaccination campaigns.
The country has also made significant progress against maternal and neonatal tetanus, with WHO certifying its elimination in several regions, including Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. As a result, around 80% of the population now lives in areas where neonatal tetanus is no longer a major public health concern.
Impact on Public Health
WHO estimates that Pakistan’s immunisation programme prevents up to 17% of all childhood deaths, making vaccination one of the most effective public health interventions in the country.
In addition to saving lives, vaccination campaigns have reduced illness, disability, and hospitalisation rates over the past several decades. Diseases such as measles, polio, pneumonia, and diarrhoeal infections have significantly declined due to improved immunisation coverage.
Role of Health Workers
WHO officials acknowledged the contribution of frontline health workers, scientists, and authorities involved in vaccination efforts across the country. Thousands of routine immunisation staff and polio workers continue to deliver vaccines to communities nationwide.
Dr. Luo Dapeng, WHO Representative in Pakistan, emphasized that vaccines remain a scientifically proven method to protect children from serious diseases and improve overall health outcomes.
Broader Benefits
Experts note that vaccination not only saves lives but also improves quality of life. By preventing disease, it reduces healthcare costs for families, lowers the burden on hospitals, and helps children maintain regular school attendance.
According to WHO estimates, each life saved through vaccination contributes to an average of 66 additional years of healthy living, highlighting the long-term benefits of immunisation.
