Dr Faisal debunks rumours about COVID shot unavailability

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, PM aide on Health clarified that on a scientific basis two doses of different vaccines are not recommended at all.

"Sinopharm is available at vaccination centres, it is incorrect to say that the vaccine's stock has ended — get yourself vaccinated."

People who got the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine will get the second dose of the same vaccine, he elucidated.

Vaccine safety profile. Out of 3.8 million+ doses, 4,329 reports of adverse effects have been reported so far. Nearly all reports were of mild, expected side effects - 90% involved pain at the site of injection or fever.

— Faisal Sultan (@fslsltn) May 18, 2021

The PM’s advisor told the media that more than 3 million people have been vaccinated all over Pakistan to date, out of which 4,329 people have reportedly faced side effects after the vaccination. However, 90 per cent of the complaints were about minor temperature along with the petty pain where the jab was administered.

On the other hand, he told that six people faced critical health condition after the vaccination, however, the later reports revealed that the said condition of those people had no link with the vaccination but was a coincidence.

The advisor on health affairs further stated that the immunization of people above 30 will be started soon as the registration process has been initiated.

Furthermore, people above 40 can get COVID jab by availing of the walk-in facility.

The PM’s assistant added that a decline in coronavirus cases has been observed as SOP’s are being followed countrywide.

The special assistant said claims against AstraZeneca were baseless and that its benefits outweigh the negative effects.

The World Bank has approved the provision of $153 million to support the ongoing national vaccine drive in Pakistan, in a bid to help the country fight the pandemic.

The National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) has also appealed to the public to register for vaccination on a priority basis.

If a person wants to report side effects from a vaccine, they can do it by calling 1166 or visiting the website nims.nadra.gov.pk, the National Command and Operations Centre said.

Vaccine’s side effects, if any, can be reported by calling help line 1166 or visiting webpage https://t.co/wwCad9mPWj

— NCOC (@OfficialNcoc) May 18, 2021

It is to be noted that Pakistan is currently facing a third wave of coronavirus with 882,928 cases reported to date and 19,750 deaths as per the latest data revealed by the Federal Health Department.