Immunization status of Pakistani children in an urban practice

ABSTRACT

One thousand children were evaluated through interviews to ascertain their immunization status for six EPI [expanded programme of immunization] targeted diseases. As indicated by other reviews of this nature, we also found that a majority of children under 5 years are adequately vaccinated. However agewise analysis for individual vaccine showed that many children are lagging behind in relation to recommended time schedule. For instance, only 45% were vaccinated against BCG by 2 months, whereas only 68% were immunized against measles between 9-12 months. In this situation they are likely to remain vulnerable to these infections especially in the first year of life