Acute shortage of Pentavalent vaccine grips Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

PESHAWAR: Government hospitals across 16 districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are facing an acute scarcity of essential pentavalent vaccines, triggering concerns over public health safety.

The vaccine used for safeguarding against diphtheria, jaundice, tetanus, and pertussis, has been depleted from all government hospitals in districts including Tank, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mansehra, and Battagram, according to the Health Department.

Blocking of non-filers SIM cards: PTCL reviewing FBR’s directives

This shortage extends to regions like Torghar, Kohistan, Kohat, Bajaur, Malakand, Charsadda, Mohmand and Chitral, among others, further compromising immunization efforts.

Even in South Waziristan, a staggering 42 per cent of government hospitals lack pentavalent vaccine stocks. Likewise, North Waziristan and Bannu are similarly affected, with 37 hospitals and 25 hospitals respectively reporting unavailability of the vaccine.

Kolai-Palas district fares no better, with 14 per cent of its hospitals unable to access pentavalent vaccines, as per Health Department data.

Minor earthquake quietly rumbles through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Responding to the crisis, the Health Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has issued directives to all districts, urging immediate actions to ensure the availability of vaccines to avert further public health risks.