- 241 more measles cases reported in Punjab, 66 in city in last 24 hours
- Punjab government’s vaccination campaign to start from June 24
There is no let-up in measles cases in the province as 241 new cases have been reported during the last 24 hours.
Despite tall claims, the Punjab Health Department has failed to overcome measles outbreak. In the city alone, more than 66 fresh cases have surfaced in last 24 hours. Similarly, Faisalabad division has seen 45 new cases.
Ironically, officials of the Health Department have termed the situation normal and under control. So far, a total of 14,300 cases of measles have been reported across Punjab. Doctors and experts are of the view that they are trying their best to cope with the situation.
The Punjab government has finalised immunization programme and is all set to launch mass vaccination campaign in 12 high-risk districts from June 24.
The Punjab government spokesman in a statement said, “The department has cold chain system of international standard for storage of vaccines and there is no issue of storage of vaccine being imported for mass vaccination in 12 measles-affected districts in Punjab.”
He said that Punjab Health Department has approached the federal government for procurement of more cold rooms so as to strengthen and beef up cold storage system in the province.
The existing cold chain system has sufficient capacity to store measles vaccines for the next mass vaccination campaign. The Health Department has prepared a PC-1 to purchase new cold rooms which will cost Rs 3.6 million per 40 cubic meter cold room while 10 cubic meter cold room will cost 2.7 million each, he added.
The spokesman hoped that the coming elected government will approve the PC-1 and allow the department to purchase cold rooms for the storage of vaccine for future.
