Northwest School of Medicine highlights the importance of World Immunization Week.
The World Immunization Week is observed globally every year in April to highlight collective action which is needed to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease.
The World Immunisation Week theme for 2021 is “A Long Life for All is not a promise – it’s an ambition because everyone deserves a chance at a fulfilling life”.
The Community Medicine Department arranged a seminar in collaboration with UNICEF regarding the importance of immunization in children and adults to prevent diseases and death among the population of the world.
Dr. Kamran Qureshi (Immunization officer, UNICEF) gave a detailed presentation regarding the importance, current situation and future goals regarding the immunization program in Pakistan.
“The ultimate goal of World Immunization Week is for more people – and their communities – to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases” he informed the audience.
Vaccines have been comprehensively saving lives since 1796.
Across two and a quarter centuries, billions of people have lived longer lives. “However, due to cultural and religious taboos, Pakistan is lagging behind in universal vaccination of all its population”, he argued.
Dr Waqar Ali (HoD, Public Health Community Medicine, NWSM, informed the participants, “Vaccines provide opportunity and hope for all of us to enjoy a more fulfilling life. And that’s something we should all be united to promote. Wild poliovirus is still prevalent in Pakistan and Afghanistan and hampering its progress”.
The students of NWSM later distributed pamphlets and flyers among patients to sensitize the public about the importance of vaccination.