ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has purchased the COVID-19 vaccine for the first time and the batch of Sinopharm vaccines will arrive in the country from China today (Tuesday).
According to details, Pakistan has purchased the Sinopharm vaccines at a discounted price following an agreement with the Chinese pharmaceutical company. The first batch of the purchased 0.5 million vaccines will arrive in Pakistan today.
Sinopharm vaccines are already being administered to frontline health workers and elderly citizens aged above 60 in Pakistan. Following the ongoing vaccination drive, Sinopharm vaccines are proved effective and successful in Pakistan.
Moreover, Pakistan is holding negotiations with another Chinese pharmaceutical firm CanSino for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines. China had earlier gifted 1 million doses of Sinopharm vaccines to Pakistan including 500,000 vials for frontline health workers and 500,000 doses for Pakistan Army.
Earlier on March 3, the Covax scheme had announced that Pakistan, Nigeria and Indonesia will be among the biggest recipients of free COVID-19 vaccines before June — more than 10 million doses each.
Some 238.2 million doses will be distributed around the world by the end of May through the programme aimed at boosting access to coronavirus jabs in poorer nations.
