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On November 15th, 2019 Pakistan became the first country in the world to introduce Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) into its routine immunization program. Moreover, to raise awareness the government of Pakistan has also launched a campaign in Sindh. The inception of the whole vaccination campaign is the aftermath of a high number of drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid cases that have been reported since November 2016. The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) supported and applauded Pakistan for taking the much needed step.
Aida Girma, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan said that, “We applaud the Government of Pakistan for prioritizing immunization of children at risk of typhoid”.
She further added that, “Their phased national introduction plan for TCV will ensure that the vaccine will reach the children most at risk first.”
What is Typhoid?
Typhoid, a serious illness caused by Salmonella Typhi, is spread through contaminated food and water and disproportionally impacts children and low-resource communities in the developing countries.
Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV)
Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) is a one-dose vaccine, injected intramuscularly, that is lower cost, has higher efficacy, and is expected to provide long lasting immunity in adults, children, and infants older than 9 months of age.
TCV is a safe and effective vaccine prequalified and recommended by the World Health Organization.
Typhoid Deaths in Pakistan (Stats)
Pakistan’s current typhoid outbreak has sickened more than 15,000 people in Sindh Province alone, and more than 10,000 of those cases were identified as extensively drug resistant (XDR). This is the first-ever reported outbreak of typhoid that is resistant to drugs.
In 2017, 63% of typhoid cases and 70% of typhoid deaths in Pakistan were among children younger than 15 years of age.
Read: #WorldChildrensDay: 15 Facts About Children In Pakistan That Will Leave You Distressed!
Prevention Campaign
To prevent these deaths, a phased introduction has been launched through a two-weeks campaign that targets 10.1 million children 9 months to 15 years of age in more than 460 urban union councils of Sindh province. The initiative has been made possible through the financial support of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Following the campaign, the vaccine will be given to 9-month old infants as part of routine immunization at EPI centers in all parts of the province.
“Children are disproportionately affected by typhoid and its associated complications, and we strongly believe that TCV would protect our children against potentially fatal disease of Typhoid,”
Dr Zafar Mirza, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health.
Dr Zafar said that starting with Sindh Province, where the need is most urgent, the government of Pakistan has planned a phased national introduction strategy with strong, coordinated support from global and local partners.
Provincial Minister of Sindh for Health, and Population Welfare, Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, said that, “Typhoid is a highly contagious disease that spreads more quickly and easily when people live in crowded neighborhoods with weak water and sanitation infrastructure. Initiating the vaccination in urban areas is critical in preventing the disease among the communities most at risk”.
Read: Taliban In North Waziristan Warn Against Vaccinating Children & Pakistanis Are Enraged
Talking about the prevention of the disease she said that typhoid is preventable and prevention through vaccination is one of the most effective interventions to reduce typhoid infections.
The TCV campaign will be conducted from the 18th to 30th November, 2019 in Sindh and will be followed by TCV being a part of the Routine Immunization Program in December.
The government is also promoting WASH solutions (water, sanitation and hygiene) alongside TCV introduction to eliminate the causes that lead to such fatal outbreaks.
Dr. Kathleen M. Neuzil, Director of the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Director of the Typhoid Vaccine Acceleration Consortium said, “This typhoid conjugate should prevent disease in the near-term while governments work on more integrated prevention and treatment approaches that also include improvements in safe water, sanitation and hygiene.”
Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi said that, “Before the discovery of antibiotics, typhoid would kill as many as one in five people who contracted it”.
Talking about the recent outbreak he said that the rise of extreme drug resistant typhoid risks bringing us back to levels of mortality not seen since the 19th century, posing a risk to all of us. He said that the risk is too high and the government of Pakistan needs to be praised for being the first to introduce this lifesaver into its routine immunization program.
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