Childhood Vaccination Schedule in Pakistan: A Parent's Complete Guide

Pakistan's Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) provides free vaccines for children from birth to 15 months. Despite this, vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, whooping cough and polio continue to cause avoidable deaths — largely because of missed doses, misinformation and delayed schedules.

At birth, your baby should receive BCG (tuberculosis), OPV-0 (oral polio) and Hepatitis B. At six weeks, the first dose of Pentavalent (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hep B and Hib), PCV (pneumococcal) and Rotavirus begins. These are repeated at 10 and 14 weeks.

Measles vaccines are given at 9 months and again at 15 months. This two-dose schedule is critical — a single dose protects only about 85 percent of children, while two doses push protection above 97 percent. Measles remains one of the most contagious and dangerous childhood illnesses in our population.

Beyond the EPI schedule, I recommend additional vaccines that are not provided free but are important: Typhoid conjugate vaccine (from 9 months), Varicella (chickenpox) at 12–15 months, Hepatitis A at 12 months, and Influenza annually from 6 months. These are available at private clinics and paediatric practices.

Common myths: vaccines do NOT cause autism — this has been disproven by multiple large-scale studies involving millions of children. Mild fever and fussiness after vaccination are normal immune responses, not complications. Delaying vaccines does not make them 'easier' on the child — it leaves them unprotected for longer.

Keep a vaccination card and bring it to every visit. If doses are missed, catch-up schedules exist for almost every vaccine. It is never too late to restart. If you are unsure about your child's vaccination status, bring them in and we will review and plan together.