In a bid to combat the spread of XDR (extensively drug-resistant) typhoid, the Sindh Health Department has embarked on a 13-day vaccination drive targeting school-aged children in Karachi and Hyderabad.
The campaign, which runs from May 13 to May 25, aims to immunize approximately 8.9 million children aged nine months to 15 years across eight districts of Sindh, including seven in Karachi and one in Hyderabad.
Sindh Health Minister, Azra Pechuho, has called on parents to ensure their children receive the vaccine. She stressed the importance of prevention in controlling the spread of diseases, particularly typhoid. The minister also cautioned parents about potential repercussions if they fail to have their children vaccinated.
Project Director, Dr. Naeem, revealed that the vaccine would be administered in schools via 31 union councils. The primary objective is to shield children from typhoid, a disease known to spread rapidly through contaminated food and water.
Dr. Naeem further explained that typhoid fever could have severe implications, potentially affecting the brain, intestines, kidneys, and bones. An EPI official disclosed that Sindh reported 6,800 cases of all forms of typhoid — MDR, XDR, and non-resistant — between January and June 2023.
 typhoid, the Sindh Health Department has embarked on a 13-day vaccination drive targeting school-aged children in Karachi and Hyderabad.){kind=link}