As many as 896,724 children from the age of 9 months to 15 years would be vaccinated under the 12-day Typhoid vaccination drive in the provincial capital that would continue till October 15 in 52 urban union councils. During the vaccination drive, 633 outreach teams, 82 fixed teams and 30 mobile teams would administer the vaccine while the drive would be supervised by 144 first level supervisors and 51 medical officers and district administration and health department officials are also involved in the day-to-day operations of this campaign. It was informed during a review meeting held here under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Peshawar Shafiullah Khan. The meeting discussed ongoing typhoid campaign in detail and it was noted that Typhoid is a dangerous disease that can be fatal. This disease enters the body of children through a bacteria present in dirty water and food and affects their intestines.
It was said during the briefing session that in severe cases of the disease, intestinal perforation can occur, which can lead to death, adding that the bacteria is very common in our environment and became resistant to common antibiotics during the last five years. It was said that currently there were only two antibiotics that could kill this bacteria effectively, but both drugs were extremely expensive. Typhoid fever rate is very high among children, especially between 9 months and 15 years and millions of children suffer from typhoid every year in Pakistan.
