Manager Research Aga Khan University Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Background: Despite the robust polio eradication efforts, Pakistan remains a polio-endemic nation. To address the persistent poliovirus transmission, the National Emergency Centre for Polio Eradication has initiated integrated health camps in Polio Super High-Risk Union Councils (SHRUCs) as a part of targeted Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) in collaboration with Aga Khan University, Pakistan. The health camps are meant to deliver basic maternal, child health and essential immunization services. Objective: This study presents the coverage of priority children for essential vaccinations from the health camps. Design/Methods: High-risk union councils are the primary targets of immunization initiatives during SIAs. To reach out to the underserved children who were either missed or inaccessible during the polio campaigns, health camps are systematically organized on a rotational basis post-campaign. Provincial and District EOCs and the Polio Program offices assist in identifying suitable locations for these health camps. Results: Between July 2021 and September 2023, a total of 2,739 health camps were organized in 41 districts with coverage extending to 201 union councils across all four provinces on a rotational basis. During these camps, 80,780 priority children under the age of five received essential vaccinations. Among them, 28,349 were children who had not received any prior doses, and another 28,349 children were those who had been missed or were unavailable during previous immunization campaigns. Within these health camps, 44,934 children who had consistently been missed by previous immunization campaigns were reached, and 11,396 children who had previously refused vaccination were covered. Additionally, the camps provided essential vaccinations to 273,978 more children.
Conclusion(s): The health camp model, as an outreach strategy, is a highly effective approach for delivering vaccination services to underprivileged populations and enhancing immunization to curb the circulation of the polio virus in the country.
