December 01, 2025
Vaccines reduce the spread of drug-resistant infections and antibiotic use.
Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV)
- Typhoid is a major public health concern in Pakistan.
- In 2024, the country recorded an estimated incidence of 27.6 cases per 100,000 people and 6,941 reported cases.
- TCV is included in the immunization program with 1 dose at 9 months.
- Modeling estimates indicate a potential aversion of 57 to 58% of drug-resistant typhoid fever cases when implemented along with a 15-year catch-up campaign.
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV)
- In Pakistan, pneumococcal diseases are the leading cause of childhood mortality in children under age 5.
- PCV is included in the immunization program in 3 doses, at 6 weeks, 10 weeks, and 14 weeks.
- PCV is projected to prevent 15 of every 75 antibiotic-treated acute respiratory infections for every 100 children aged 2–5 years.
Rotavirus Vaccine
- Rotavirus infections are a leading cause of severe diarrhea in children under 5 years old, with many requiring hospitalization.
- The rotavirus oral vaccine is included in the immunization program with 2 doses at 6 weeks and 10 weeks.
- Rotavirus vaccines are predicted to prevent 9 out of approximately 14 out of every 100 antibiotic-treated diarrhea cases in children younger than 2 years.
Tuberculosis Vaccine
- Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of Pakistan’s deadliest infectious diseases. It claimed an estimated 51,700 lives in 2024.
- The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is included in the Expanded Program on Immunization, with 1 dose administered at birth to prevent childhood TB.
- A hypothetical modeling analysis shows that a post-exposure TB vaccine with 50% efficacy could help prevent around 36,000 rifampicin-resistant TB cases and 6,200 deaths over 15 years in Pakistan.
