Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho launches Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine campaign

The Sindh health department has announced a Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) campaign in Karachi and Hyderabad due to the rising cases of drug-resistant typhoid in the two cities. Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho made this decision during a meeting of the provincial task force, where Director General-Health Dr Muhammad Naeem presented detailed data and plans for the campaign. Scheduled to run from May 13 to May 25, the campaign aims to vaccinate 9.8 million children aged nine months to 15 years in Karachi and Hyderabad. The minister expressed concern over the high number of XDR typhoid cases, particularly among children under 15, stressing the importance of vaccination in reducing the disease burden. It was highlighted that while the TCV campaign is crucial, efforts to enhance routine immunisation coverage must continue.

Additionally, letters will be sent to schools by medical associations and deputy commissioner offices to ensure vaccination coverage. Security arrangements for vaccination teams visiting schools and other areas will be provided by the home department. In a separate development, the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) and the Sindh government jointly inaugurated the 29th Chest Pain and Stroke Unit at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC). The unit was opened by Health Minister Dr Pechuho and NICVD’s Executive Director Prof Tahir Saghir, with a commitment to offer advanced heart disease treatment closer to patients' residences.