The Sindh Health Department has officially launched the third phase of its ‘Big Catch-up’ immunisation campaign, aiming to vaccinate 1.5 million children across the province who have missed routine immunisations — particularly those between the ages of two and five.

Originally set to begin on July 14, the campaign was delayed due to heavy monsoon forecasts. It will now span 24 days, reaching children in all 1,128 union councils of Sindh.

The campaign, under the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), is a large-scale operation involving 3,650 vaccination teams supported by equal numbers of assistants, 7,300 social mobilisers, over 1,000 field supervisors, and data operators at both tehsil and district levels.

Senior health officials, including Sindh Health Secretary Rehan Iqbal Baloch and EPI Programme Director Dr. Raj Kumar, met recently to finalise strategy and logistics. Partner organisations and emergency operations coordinators were also involved in planning.

Health experts say the campaign is critical to addressing the significant drop in childhood immunisation coverage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which strained healthcare systems, led to clinic closures, and disrupted global medical supply chains.

“Routine immunisation has suffered significantly. This campaign is a vital intervention to close the gap, protect children from deadly diseases, and strengthen public health infrastructure,” said an EPI representative.

Vaccine hesitancy, which has continued to hinder immunisation efforts, is another key focus of the drive. The campaign will involve community outreach and education through mobilisers working directly with families.

The urgency of this effort is underscored by rising fatalities from vaccine-preventable diseases. In 2024 alone, Sindh recorded 132 child deaths from measles, with over 13,000 suspected and more than 6,600 confirmed cases across 149 outbreaks — 18 in Karachi alone. Diphtheria also claimed 40 children’s lives, with outbreaks in Karachi, Larkana, and Dadu.

Polio, too, remains a pressing concern, with Sindh among the provinces facing renewed challenges in eradicating the virus.

This catch-up campaign, officials say, represents not just an emergency response, but a renewed commitment to universal immunisation — ensuring that no child in Sindh is left unprotected.