ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expanded its coronavirus vaccinations to students under 18 years of age, who intend to travel abroad for studies, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) announced on Friday.
In a statement, the coronavirus monitoring body announced that students aged 16-18 years, who need to travel abroad for studies at universities requiring mandatory vaccination, will be administered Moderna vaccine.
Vaccination is open to all above 18 years of age. However, students aged 16-18 years, who need to go abroad for study to universities requiring mandatory vaccination will be administered Moderna vaccine. (to be administered on checking valid visa / university documents)
— NCOC (@OfficialNcoc) August 6, 2021
“Students having valid visa and university documents will be administered a Covid-19”, the statement clarified. Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health has also confirmed the development.
Dr Faisal Sultan told a private news channel that children between the ages of 16 to 18 years are eligible to get a jab, if they have to go overseas for education or other reasons. “Children under 18 will have to follow the same process of registering via an SMS on the government helpline 1166, and wait for information about a health center,” he added.
Pakistan has, to date, fully immunized 7,239,268 people, which is 10.3 % of its target of vaccinating 70 million of the adult population. The country’s vaccination program, which kicked off in February, is otherwise open to all citizens over the age of 18 years.
Pakistan is ranked 31 globally in terms of countries impacted by the coronavirus, as per the Johns Hopkins tally and has to date 1,058,405 infections and 23,702 deaths.
