Another batch of SinoPharm vaccine arrives from China

The flight is carrying half a million doses of the vaccine.

Three more flights from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) reached Beijing on Saturday.

Vaccines are being loaded on the 777 airplanes, with all three supposed to carry a total of one million doses. Pakistan government has ratched up its vaccine program in response to the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic. All government departments are working overtime to counter the fast spreading virus.

In March a flight carrying 500,000 vaccine doses reached the country which have now been used to inoculate the population. The first batch of vaccines had arrived from China in February which was used to inoculate frontline health workers.

Pakistan is currently in the midst of a vicious third wave of the pandemic with hospitals filling up quickly. As per the NCOC, during the previous 24 hours, 157 people lost their lives, a record since the beginning of the pandemic. While Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa were initially taking the brunt of the third wave, now Sindh and Balochistan too seem to be in the grip of the disease.

Measures announced on Friday included the closing of all outdoor dining, schools and educational institutes in areas where positivity is above 5% and strict closure of business by 6:00 pm.