Covid-19: Pakistan all set to vaccinate health workers as campaign kicks off today

According to National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), the first batch of coronavirus vaccine has reached all federating units, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB).

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar initiated the national immunization drive in a special ceremony. Chief Ministers of all provinces, including Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir participated in the ceremony.

Health workers will be vaccinated in the first phase, followed by elderly people over 65 years of age following which vaccine would be made available to the public.

On February 02, Prime Minister Imran Khan launched coronavirus vaccination campaign, with the first jab administered to a doctor in Islamabad.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the launch of the drive, Prime Minister urged the people to strictly adhere to the SoPs to stop coronavirus spread. He said the vaccination would be wisely distributed across all the provinces. He was thankful of China for providing the 0.5 million doses of vaccine.

The premier congratulated his health team for moving rapidly to secure the vaccines and thanked China for donating 500,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine to Pakistan.

Sinopharm vaccine arrived in Pakistan

On February 01, the first batch of the Covid-19 vaccine arrived in Pakistan from China by a special plane of Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

The news was confirmed Dr. Faisal Sultan, who is serving as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination.

Taking to twitter, the SAPM extended gratitude to China for providing Pakistan five hundred thousand doses doses of its vaccine. While saluting frontline healthcare workers for their immense efforts, he added that National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) and provinces played an instrumental role in tackling Covid-19.

“Alhamdulilah the first batch of Sinopharm vaccine has arrived! Grateful to China and everyone who made this happen. NCOC & provinces played an instrumental role in tackling Covid-19. I salute our frontline healthcare workers for their efforts & they'll be first to get vaccinated,” he said.