The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has decided to dedicate Sundays for people who want to get the second dose of coronavirus vaccine.
According to the NCOC, for a second shot of the vaccine, people don’t have to wait for a message from the government.
The second dose of the vaccine is being administered seven days a week at immunisation centres across the country.
The gap between the first and second dose has been reduced from 42 to 28 days.
Earlier this week, NCOC chief Asad Umar revealed that the government has set a target of vaccinating 40 percent of the population above the age of 18 years by the end of August.
So far, the target has been achieved in 20 cities across the country, but Hyderabad, Mardan, Quetta, and Nowshera failed to meet the target.
Asad said that 35 percent of the population has received the first dose of the vaccine. Here is a region-wise break-up of the immunisation:
- Islamabad territory 69%
- Azad Jammu and Kashmir 51%
- Gilgit-Baltistan 39%
- Punjab 37%
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 35%
- Sindh 32%
- Balochistan 12%
The government has started vaccinations for people above and of the age of 17 years. People with weak immune systems between the ages of 12 and 16 can receive the vaccine shot too.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Health Department has imposed a smart lockdown in 15 districts of the province to arrest the spread of coronavirus in the province.
High covid infection rates have been recorded in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali, Rahim Yar Khan, Khanewal, Bhakkar, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Multan, Bhawalpur, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, and Sheikhupura.
Virus hotspot areas in these cities will be sealed for 14 days. People have been instructed to wear masks, practice social distancing, and get vaccinated.
Shrines, cinemas, gyms and sports activities in these cities will remain closed.
The government recently began a door-to-door vaccination campaign in eight districts of the province. It has now been extended to the entire province.
SCHOOLS CLOSED: Meanwhile, educational institutions in Islamabad and some districts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been closed, the NCOC has announced. It has also imposed a ban on inter-city transport in areas with a high Covid-19 infection rate.
In a briefing to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday, Federal Planning Minister Asad Umar said that the government has imposed new restrictions in cities where coronavirus cases have risen.
