MM News

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has received the first batch of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine under the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility today (Saturday), according to the coronavirus-monitoring body.

According to Health Ministry’s spokesperson, the first consignment, which includes over 1.2 million AstraZeneca vaccine, has arrived at Islamabad International Airport. Pakistan received COVID-19 vaccine from South Korea using influence with partner organizations.

National Command Operation Centre (NCOC), in a statement, said so far 10.19 million doses of different vaccines (Sinopharm, Sinovac, and CanSino) have been received in Pakistan.

NCOC also said that one million doses of Sinovac are landing on May 13-15 whereas another 1.5 million doses are expected by the end of May 2021. It also urged all citizens especially senior citizens of 60 years plus age to get vaccinate themselves at priority.

Pakistan was supposed to get the first tranche of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine via COVAX in March, but supply was delayed after the Serum Institute of India (SII) diverted supplies to meet its domestic needs, officials said.

COVAX is co-led by the World Health Organization, the Gavi vaccine alliance, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. Pakistan has so far received a total of 4.06 million doses of vaccines for the novel coronavirus.

Last month, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi announced that Pakistan will receive 15 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine from the COVAX scheme as the country continues to battle the pandemic’s third wave.