WHO Consults 183 Frontline Vaccinators in Pakistan to Improve Outreach Support

WHO has begun a series of consultations with 183 frontline vaccinators in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The meetings aim to capture the daily realities of routine vaccinators who travel distances ranging from 5‑6 km to as far as 90 km on motorcycles to deliver single outreach sessions. The 15,000 WHO‑trained workers of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) face logistical hurdles that threaten timely vaccine delivery to millions of children and mothers. By gathering firsthand accounts, WHO and EPI intend to identify specific challenges—such as travel time, equipment shortages, and safety concerns—and design targeted support measures. The consultation data will feed into a revised operational plan that could streamline routes, improve resource allocation, and enhance the overall efficiency of Pakistan’s routine immunisation programme. The findings will be shared with provincial health authorities to inform policy adjustments.