ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's coronavirus vaccination drive is in full swing again as the vaccine stocks have been replenished this week. With more doses set to be procured in the coming weeks, health authorities believe that soon there will be enough doses available all over the country.
Currently, there are five vaccines being administered to the public across Pakistan. These are Sinopharm, CoronaVac-SinoVac, Cansino, Oxford-AstraZeneca, and Pfizer.
• Sinopharm and SinoVac are the most widely available vaccines in the country, given to anyone aged above 18.
• Cansino, the single-dose vaccine, is no more available in most vaccination centers across the country.
• Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines are given only to people going abroad.
• Pfizer vaccines are very limited, administered only to immuno-compromised individuals, pregnant women, and people going abroad in countries where only this vaccine is acceptable.
• Sputnik V jabs were available only in the private sector.
Today, Pakistan's health ministry/ NCOC has changed guidelines regarding the minimum advised gap between two doses of three vaccines namely, Sinopharm, CoronaVac-SinoVac, and Pfizer vaccines.
As per the updated guidelines, two doses are to be now given at least 6 weeks apart - instead of the previous 3 weeks for Sinopharm and Pfizer while 4 weeks for CoronaVac-SinoVac jabs.
The sudden change in guidelines has resulted in confusion among the masses as people whose date for 2nd dose has already been given as per the old guidelines have to be convinced now by the health care providers on duty in the vaccination centers to come a few days later. Health experts believe that there should have been more clarity on the matter from the government's side.
Vaccine Statistics
Pakistan's latest COVID-19 vaccination figures as provided by the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC), the nerve center to synergize and articulate unified national effort against COVID-19, are as follows:
Partially Vaccinated: 7,267,000 (LAST 24 HOURS: 248,339) Fully Vaccinated: 3,566,547 (LAST 24 HOURS: 55,543) Total Doses Administered: 13,484,364 (LAST 24 HOURS: 303,882)