Every year, thousands of Pakistani children fall seriously ill from diseases that a few rupees' worth of vaccine could have prevented. The good news is that Pakistan's Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) offers these vaccines completely free at government health centres, and the schedule is simpler than most parents think. Here is what actually happens, dose by dose, and why it matters.
The EPI Schedule From Birth to 15 Months
Pakistan follows the national EPI calendar set by the National Immunization Programme, aligned with World Health Organization guidance. Keep this list handy and tick off each visit:
- At birth: BCG (protects against tuberculosis) and OPV-0, the "zero dose" oral polio drops.
- 6 weeks: Pentavalent-1 (covers diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, and Hib), OPV-1, PCV-1 (pneumococcal, against pneumonia and meningitis), and Rotavirus-1 (against severe diarrhoea).
- 10 weeks: Pentavalent-2, OPV-2, PCV-2, Rotavirus-2.
- 14 weeks: Pentavalent-3, OPV-3, IPV (injectable polio vaccine, given alongside drops for extra protection), and PCV-3.
- 9 months: Measles-1 (MR vaccine), plus a dose of Vitamin A.
- 15 months: Measles-2, the booster that closes any immunity gap from the first dose.
Every child should also get an EPI card at the first visit. Do not lose it — it is the only reliable record health workers will trust if you switch cities or clinics.
Why Each Vaccine Actually Matters
It is easy to skip a "just in case" shot when your baby looks perfectly healthy. But these diseases are still circulating in Pakistan:
- Polio — Pakistan is one of the last two countries on earth where wild poliovirus still spreads. Every OPV and IPV dose your child gets also protects the whole community.
- Pneumococcal disease — pneumonia is still a leading killer of children under five in Pakistan; PCV cuts that risk sharply.
- Measles — highly contagious and dangerous in malnourished children; outbreaks still happen in under-vaccinated neighbourhoods almost every year.
- Rotavirus — the single biggest cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhoea in infants, which still sends many babies to hospital.
What to Expect After the Shots
- Mild fever, fussiness, or a sore spot at the injection site for 1-2 days is normal, especially after Pentavalent.
- Paracetamol syrup (dose based on your child's weight) and extra breastfeeding usually settle it.
- Call your doctor immediately if fever crosses 102°F, lasts more than two days, or your baby seems unusually limp, has a high-pitched cry, or develops a rash — these are rare but worth checking.
- Never delay a scheduled dose just because of a mild cold; only high fever or serious illness on the day itself is a real reason to reschedule.
A missed dose is not a lost cause — EPI centres and most paediatricians will happily "catch up" a delayed child on a revised schedule, so don't skip future visits out of guilt over a missed one.
Where to Get Vaccinated
All EPI vaccines are free at government Basic Health Units, Rural Health Centres, and district hospitals across Pakistan. Lady Health Workers also run outreach sessions in many neighbourhoods — ask your local BHU for the nearest schedule. If you use a private paediatrician instead, ask them to record every dose on the same EPI card so the record stays complete. For general reference, UNICEF Pakistan also publishes parent-friendly immunization information.
Roman Urdu
Pakistan mein har saal bohat se bachay un bimariyon se bemar hotay hain jinhein sirf chand rupay ki vaccine se rokna mumkin tha. Achi baat yeh hai ke EPI (Expanded Programme on Immunization) ke tahat yeh sab vaccines government centers par bilkul free milti hain.
Schedule kuch is tarah hai: Paidaish par BCG aur OPV-0 diye jatay hain. 6 hafton par Pentavalent-1, OPV-1, PCV-1 aur Rotavirus-1. 10 hafton par inhi ka doosra dose. 14 hafton par Pentavalent-3, OPV-3, IPV aur PCV-3. 9 mahine par Measles-1 ke saath Vitamin A ka dose. 15 mahine par Measles-2, jo pehli dose ka gap poora karti hai.
Har visit par EPI card zaroor saath rakhein aur is par entry karwayein — yeh card hi asal record hota hai, khaskar agar aap city ya clinic badlein.
Yeh vaccines is liye zaroori hain kyunke Pakistan un aakhri mulkon mein se hai jahan polio virus ab bhi maujood hai — har dose sirf aapke bachay ko nahi, poori community ko mehfooz banati hai. Pneumonia aur diarrhea bhi chhotay bachon mein maut ki bari wajah hain, jinhein PCV aur Rotavirus vaccine kaafi had tak rok sakti hain. Measles bhi under-vaccinated ilaqon mein ab bhi phailta hai.
Vaccine ke baad halka bukhar ya injection wali jagah par soojan aam baat hai — paracetamol aur feeding se aaram aa jata hai. Lekin agar bukhar 102°F se zyada ho, do din se zyada rahe, ya bacha ghair-mamooli sust lage, foran doctor se rabta karein.
Agar koi dose miss ho jaye to pareshan na hon — EPI center par catch-up schedule bhi mil jata hai. Bas agli visits missed guilt ki wajah se skip na karein. Apne qareebi Basic Health Unit ya Lady Health Worker se schedule maloom karein aur agar private doctor se vaccine lagwa rahe hain to wohi EPI card par entry zaroor karwayein.
