ISLAMABAD: Over 100,000 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine via COVAX have arrived in Pakistan today.
Shipments of Pfizer diluents and syringes will be arriving over the next two days. The vaccines will be used for the Government of Pakistan’s ongoing COVID-19 vaccination campaign.
The shipment of vaccines came with the collaboration of UNICEF South Asia and the Vaccine Alliance of the World Health Organization (WHO). In a statement, UNICEF commended Pakistan’s effort and the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination Islamabad for the successful rollout of the countrywide COVID-19 vaccination campaign.
“Excellent arrangements at vaccination centres and inclusion of all above 18 years of age in the campaign,” the statement read.
This shipment of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines is the second consignment of vaccines received by Pakistan via COVAX. Earlier this month, UNICEF had led the efforts to procure and deliver more than 1 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to the Government of Pakistan on behalf of COVAX.
Third Wave
In the last 24 hours, Pakistan reported 2,482 new COVID-19 infections while 67 people lost their lives, according to the latest statistics released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC). In addition to this, 4,132 patients are in critical condition in the country.
The positivity ratio was recorded at 4.8 per cent across the country.
Till now, Pakistan has recorded 20,532 deaths. Punjab is on top of the list with 9,925 casualties followed by Sindh: 4,988; KP: 4,025; Islamabad: 753; Balochistan: 273; GB: 107 and AJK: 532.
Since the start of the pandemic, Sindh has reported 314,158 cases, Punjab: 337,775; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:131,411, Islamabad: 80,927; Balochistan: 24,908; Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK): 19,060 and Gilgit Baltistan: 5,545.
A total of 908,576 cases have been detected so far in the country with AJK reporting 18,940; Balochistan: 24,733; GB: 5,516; ICT: 80,662, KP: 130,644; Punjab:336,315 and Sindh: 311,766.
Pakistan has so far conducted 13,057,951 coronavirus tests and 51,625 in the last 24 hours. 834,566 coronavirus patients have recovered in the country whereas 4,132 patients are in critical condition.
Pakistan opens registration for citizens aged 19 and above
On Wednesday, NCOC chief Asad Umar said the government has decided to vaccinate all citizens aged 19 and above in line with the recommendations of the healthcare authorities.
According to the planning minister, the registration will start from Thursday. Umar said that “now registration will be open for the entire national population which is approved by health experts for COVID-19 vaccination”.
