Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar on Wednesday announced that Pakistan will launch its COVID-19 vaccination drive next week, starting with front-line health workers.

The comments by the federal minister came as the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) unveils an integrated plan to administer the vaccine. Taking to Twitter, the NCOC chief said:

"The system for vaccination is in place. Hundreds of vaccination centres in the country will be administering the covid vaccine. Inshallah, the vaccination of front line health workers will start next week."

According to the details, the government's nerve centre against the pandemic has devised a comprehensive plan to roll out the vaccination program. The plan has been put together by the federal government in consultation with all stakeholders and provinces.

The announcement was made after the NCOC session on Wednesday, chaired by Asad Umar and attended, among others, by National NCOC Coordinator Lt Gen Hamooduz Zaman Khan and Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood.

NCOC will utilise the National Immunization Management System (NIMS) that will remain functional through the National Vaccination Administration and Coordination Cell (NVACC) at the national level. The NVACC has been established at the NCOC.

Pakistan to receive 500,000 vaccines from China:

Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced that China will provide Pakistan with 500,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine by the end of this month. In a statement issued by the Foreign Office, it was revealed that Beijing would also provide vaccines produced by CanSino and SinoVac to support Pakistan’s fight against the second wave of COVID-19.