Health workers are real heroes, says Asad as National Immunization Drive against Covid formally begins

He was addressing a special ceremony at National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) in Islamabad where healthcare workers were administered the Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine.

"We decided to administer the vaccine to health workers in the first phase as they have been on the frontline in war against coronavirus.

Asad Umar said that all provinces fought alongside federal in war against coronavirus pandemic.

While terming Beijing a "true friend", he extended his gratitude to China for providing the vaccine to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, separate ceremonies were simultaneously held in all the provinces where healthcare workers administered coronavirus vaccine.

Punjab

Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar formally initiated the coronavirus vaccination drive in Punjab.

Speaking on the occasion, CM Punjab said that healthcare workers will be administered jabs in the first phase and around 189 vaccination centers have been established across province.

Sindh

The mass vaccination drive began in the province with a ceremony held in Dow University Hospital, attended by Chief Minister and Health Minister Azra Fazal Pechuho.

Speaking on occasion, Azra Pechuho said that they have received approximately 83 thousand jabs for healthcare workers. She said that vaccination centers have been set up in all districts of Karachi including Jamshoro and Benazirabad.

CM Sindh termed the day as ‘historic’ and extended gratitude to the government of China for providing Pakistan the vaccine.

Khyber Pakhtunkhawa

The vaccination drive was initiated by Chief Minister KP Mahmood Khan in Naseer Allah Babar Hospital. Speaking on occasion, he said that KP has received 16 thousand doses of vaccination from federal so far.

“As per guidelines by federal government, these jabs will be administered to healthcare workers in eight districts. They have rendered immense sacrifices in war against pandemic,” he added.

Balochistan

Chief Minister Jam Kamal formally initiated the vaccination drive in CM Secretariat. He said that the province is provided with 10 thousand jabs for healthcare workers. He thanked NCOC and federal government for the provision of vaccine to healthcare workers.