Pakistanis over 18 years to get booster doses as Omicron pushes infections

Islamabad: Pakistan is set to start administering booster shots to fully vaccinated people of and above the age of 18 years.

The National Command and Operation Centre has approved booster shots as the Omicron variant pushes infections across the country.

The free booster dose will be administered to people after a six-month gap from when their vaccination was completed.

NCOC said in a Twitter post that from tomorrow onwards [Saturday, January 15], citizens over 18 years will be eligible for a free booster dose of their choice. Booster (one dose) will be administered after 6 months gap from complete vaccination.

In Todays NCOC session, age limit for booster dose has been further reduced. From tomorrow onwards, citizens over 18 years will be eligible for free booster dose of their choice. Booster (one dose) will be administered after 6 months gap from complete vaccination.

— NCOC (@OfficialNcoc) January 14, 2022

People can visit any vaccination centre for the shot.

The development comes after Pakistan’s coronavirus infection rate jumped to 7% Thursday. Karachi has, on the other hand, recorded its highest number of cases since the first virus outbreak last year. The positivity rate in the city has reached 28.8%.

The government has, so far, refuted claims of a lockdown. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has said decisions on restrictions and lockdown will be taken in coordination with the NCOC.

Earlier, the government approved the jabs for those above 50 years, health workers, and immuno-compromised persons. The decision was taken after Pakistan started reporting the new and deadlier Omicron variant of the coronavirus.