Experts from pediatrics, disease surveillance, public health, vaccination and health administration met in Lahore from 9-11 December 2025 for a Sentinel Sites review organized by EPI Punjab with WHO support. Representatives from UNICEF and provincial health authorities joined clinical and technical specialists to assess progress and coordinate next steps.
Sentinel Sites established at nine teaching hospitals across Punjab were presented as central sources of epidemiological pointers, producing data on disease trends and early signs of potential outbreaks. Delegates reviewed how these data streams are used to shape timely vaccination responses and public health measures at the provincial level.
Director Health Services (EPI) Dr Abdul Jabbar and Pro Vice Chancellor University of Child Health Sciences Professor Junaid Rasheed emphasized that disease surveillance and vaccination are interwoven, each contributing to and reinforcing the other. They underlined that strong sentinel surveillance is essential for targeting immunisation efforts and protecting vulnerable populations in Punjab.
Technical sessions and detailed analyses were facilitated by WHO expert on disease surveillance Dr Mehroz Saleem, who led discussions on data interpretation, outbreak detection thresholds and operational improvements at the sentinel hospitals. The sessions focused on translating surveillance findings into actionable vaccination strategies and strengthening routine immunisation systems.
Participants stressed continued collaboration between EPI Punjab, WHO, UNICEF and teaching hospitals to expand the utility of the Sentinel Sites network, improve real-time reporting and ensure that surveillance-driven vaccination policies remain responsive to emerging threats in the province.
