The National Command and Operation Centre on Monday said that 27% of the country’s total population has been vaccinated against the coronavirus, as the threat of the new Covid variant – Omicron – looms in the country.

The NCOC update comes as temperatures drop across the country with the advent of the winter season. Many medical experts had earlier expressed fear that the cold weather could potentially worsen the spread of the pandemic.

“Vaccine Statistics: Vaccine administered across Pakistan in last 24 hours: 713,582. Total vaccine administered till now: 141,509,339. 27% of the total population and 40% of the eligible population stand vaccinated!” it said in a tweet.

Meanwhile, the forum, which serves as the nerve centre of the country’s unified efforts to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, expanded the booster shot campaign among people aged over 30, Aaj News reported on Monday.

“People over the age of 30 will be eligible to have a Covid-19 booster shot of their choice from January 1 2022,” read a statement issued after the NCOC meeting, which was presided over by head Asad Umar.

The huddle also decided to expedite the vaccination campaign across the country.

According to daily statistics, around 43,242 tests were conducted over the last 24 hours and as many as 360 positive cases were reported. It added that the positivity ratio stood at 0.83 per cent, with six people succumbing to the virus and another 666 patients in critical care.

The NCOC also warned citizens that the Omicron variant has spread to 95 countries with 58,000 confirmed cases, reiterating the call for vaccination against the new variant.