Pakistan ready to roll out locally manufactured COVID jab

NIH officials say a consignment of more than 200,000 doses of the locally manufactured jab has been sent to DRAP (Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan) for approval.

The vaccine will be administered to citizens after approval from DRAP.

It should be noted that the concentrated CanSino vaccine imported from China is used as a raw material to make the PakVac shot, which is mixed with certain ingredients to make"usable doses" and are then administered.

The PakVac is a "single dose" vaccine, meaning that one dose of it is enough to protect against the coronavirus (SARS 2).

According to the NIH, the second batch of PakVac was prepared by Pakistani experts themselves, while the first batch was prepared by Chinese experts while providing professional training to Pakistani staff.

At present, an average of 50,000 doses of PakVac are being prepared in a single day. However, the authorities aim to increase the production capacity to 100,000 per day from next month.

It is expected that 3 million PakVac doses will be made locally in July.

Earlier, the Ministry of National Health announced guidelines for the use of the Pakistani made single-dose COVID-19 shot—PakVac.

According to the procedures, the locally-made jab should be stored and transported at a temperature ranging from 2 to 8 degrees Celsius.

To ensure its proper storage and efficacy, the shot should not be frozen and should be kept away from sunlight while the unwrapped injection should be used within six hours.

The health ministry said the PakVac shot can only be administered to Pakistanis above 18 years of age.

People suffering from heart, mental and respiratory diseases, diabetes, and obesity can be directed the vaccine.

It said the vaccine cannot be administered to pregnant women and lactating mothers besides those having fever.

The ministry said coronavirus positive patients can be administered the PakVac vaccine only after they recover from the illness.

People undergoing some organ transplant can be administered the vaccine three months after their surgery while those undergoing chemotherapy after 28 days, it added.

Pakistan on June 1 launched ‘PakVac’—the first in-house developed and packaged coronavirus shot.

The launching ceremony of the first Pakistani anti-COVID vaccine was held in Islamabad with the participation of the Federal Minister for Development and Planning Asad Umar, Special Assistant for Health Dr Faisal Sultan, Chinese Ambassador and National Institute of Health (NIH) head.

PAkVac is developed and packaged at the NIH and is made from the raw material of Chinese jab SinoVac.

The vaccine has been developed in collaboration with Chinese experts.

While on the occasion Federal Minister and NCOC head Asad Umar said coordinated, systematic efforts are need of the hour to deal with the health challenges like COVID-19.

He remarked (the launching of PakVac) as an “important day” added that the number of patients on oxygen support was 60% more than it was during the first wave.

He said concrete measures are being taken to strengthen the country’s health system.

The Minister appreciated the role of the National Health Institute in collecting the data of COVID patients that helped to provide the best facilities to the deserving people.

Asad Umar said the government is striving to achieve the best in Health and Education sectors and for this purpose, “we have increased budgetary allocations.”

Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan said that the country will soon be able to start the production of the drug.

PM’s aide of Health, while speaking at the launch ceremony, said that the is an opportunity in every difficulty.

He also added that during the pandemic, China stood out as a friend of Pakistan.

“China was already a friend and came forward when coronavirus [hit Pakistan],” said Dr Sultan.

He also lauded the NIH for developing the vaccine.

Developing the vaccine from raw materials is not an easy task. [Pakistan is] proud of the individuals that industrialized the injection at the NIH,” said Dr Sultan.

Meanwhile, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) chief Asad Umar remarked that today was an “important day”.

Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong, on the occasion, said that the vaccine’s production is an example of the friendship between the two countries.

He added that Pakistan is the first country that accepted the Chinese shot as a gift.