Vaccines in Pakistan and their schedule!
In our country we have two parallel systems of childhood vaccines: A) UNICEF funded EPI programme and B) private vaccination programmes.
EPI vaccination program?
EPI programme has included free vaccines for TB, POLIO, Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Homophiles influenza type b, pneumococcal, rota virus and Measles only. This EPI programme is primarily WHO/UNICEF sponsored with the help from bigger international NGOs and provides excellent services free of cost.
Private vaccination programme?
In private vaccine programme all the EPI vaccines are offered at private market prices as well as some additional really important vaccines which are not covered in free EPI programme. These vaccines include Hepatitis A, Chicken Pox, MMR, Meningococcal, typhoid, flu and yellow fever vaccines.
Also Read: How vaccines work?
Vaccination Schedule
Age |
Vaccine |
Brand Name |
Birth |
BCG Oral Polio Vaccine dose 0 Hepatitis B |
BCG OPV Engerix B Jr |
6-8 weeks |
Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus Hepatitis B Hemophilus Influenzae b Polio Pneumocaoocal vaccine Rota Virus |
Hexaxim( DTaP+HB+Hib+IPV) Penta +OPV SYNFLORIX ( PCV 10) or PREVENAR 13 ( PCV13) ROTARIX |
10-16 weeks |
Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus Hepatitis B Hemophilus Influenzae b Polio Pneumocaoocal vaccine Rota Virus |
Hexaxim( DTaP+HB+Hib+IPV) or Penta +OPV SYNFLORIX ( PCV 10) or PREVENAR 13 ( PCV13) ROTARIX |
14-24 weeks |
Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus Hepatitis B Hemophilus Influenzae b Polio Pneumocaoocal vaccine |
Hexaxim( DTaP+HB+Hib+IPV) or Penta +OPV SYNFLORIX ( PCV 10) or PREVENAR 13 ( PCV13) |
6 Months |
Flu ( for families who are at high risk, who have allergies, asthma etc) |
VAXIGRIP INFLUVAC FLUARIX |
9 Months |
Measles MCV4/ Meningococcal/ Meningitis |
Measles MENECTRA or NIMENRIX |
12-15 months |
Chicken Pox/ Varicella Measles+Mumps+Rubella/MMR Hepatitis A Pneumococcal |
VARILRIX/ VARIVAC/VAXAPOX TRIMOVAX/MMR HAVRIX Jr SYNFLORIX ( PCV 10) or PREVENAR 13 ( PCV13) |
18-21 months |
Chicken Pox/ Varicella Measles+Mumps+Rubella/MMR Hepatitis A Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus Hepatitis B Hemophilus Influenzae b Polio |
VARILRIX/ VARIVAC/VAXAPOX TRIMOVAX/MMR HAVRIX Jr Hexaxim( DTaP+HB+Hib+IPV) or Penta +OPV |
24 months |
Typhoid MCV4/ Meningococcal/ Meningitis |
Typhim/ TYPBAR MENECTRA or NIMENRIX |
Dr. Salman Ahmad Bajwa
MBBS, RMP, FCPS (Paeds)
Paediatrician, Neonatologist
Child Growth and Nutrition Expert