Punjab to start single-dose inoculation for elderly

Secretary Primary and Secondary Health Care, Sarah Aslam has confirmed that the single-dose vaccine will now be administered in the province. She reiterated that the government's priority is to give maximum facilities to the elderly with least amount of discomfort.

She also said that more vaccination centers are being set up across Punjab so that most people will have a center nearby to go to. "Remember that the best vaccine is the one currently available for you. Don't pay heed to rumors and get yourself vaccinated," she said, addressing older citizens whom she especially requested to get the shot as soon as possible.

Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are in the midst of a powerful third wave of the pandemic, driven in part by the UK variant. In the previous 24 hours, 100 people lost their lives to the novel coronavirus. In Punjab alone, a total of almost 7000 people have died of COVID-19. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa the number currently stands at 2586 fatalities.

Punjab government has imposed multiple restrictions in a bid to control the third wave, including closure of commercial businesses by 6 pm and weekend closure of all shops except groceries and pharmacies. Weddings and other social events are banned while sporting events and parks are also closed.