Pakistan to get 17m doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine before April

With the vaccine, more than eight million Pakistanis will receive protection against the deadly coronavirus. AstraZeneca vaccine requires two doses; first jab shown to be 76 percent effective and efficacy rises to 82 percent after second dose.

Earlier, National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) broke the news that COVAX has indicated a supply of up to 17 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine for Pakistan in the first half of 2021.

"Good news on COVID vaccine front. Received a letter from COVAX of [an] indicative supply of up to 17 million doses of AstraZeneca in 1st half 2021," Umar wrote on Twitter. According to the planning minister, 6 million of the total 17 million doses will be received by March with delivery starting in February.

Good news on covid vaccine front. Recieved letter from Covax of indicative supply of up to 17 million doses of AstraZeneca in 1st half 2021. About 6 million will be recieved by March with delivery starting in Feb. We signed with Covax nearly 8 months back to ensure availability

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) January 30, 2021

Under COVAX programme for supplying COVID-19 vaccines to poor countries; Pakistan to get 17.2 million doses. The scheme has planned enough doses for dozens of countries to immunise more than 3 percent of their populations by mid-year.

A statement said the initial distribution was in line with a target "to protect the most vulnerable groups such as health care workers" in the first half of the year.