Citizens over the age of 50 can register to be vaccinated against the coronavirus starting March 30. Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar announced this in a tweet Friday, urging the eligible Pakistani citizens to register accordingly.
“Registration of those who are 50 plus for COVID vaccination will be opened on March 30th,” the minister tweeted. “Registration of those who are 60 and older has already been open. Encourage everybody who is 50 plus to register when the registration is opened for them on 30th.
Vaccination drives have been in effect across the country since February, with frontline healthcare workers and elderly citizens receiving vaccines on a priority basis.
Registration for citizens over 65 years of age began on February 15, while the vaccination process began in March. Citizens can register for the vaccine by sending their CNIC numbers to 1166 via SMS.
The vaccines currently being administered in Pakistan are manufactured by the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm. The vaccine has been donated to Pakistan by China in batches, and more shipments are expected to arrive in the coming months.
Pakistan will also be receiving Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines through COVAX, but the shipment has been delayed as India has suspended exports to meet its domestic demands. The government has also approved the use of Russian Sputnik V vaccines and Chinese CanSinoBIO vaccines.
