ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Heath, Dr Faisal Sultan has informed that health authorities were negotiating with China and Russia, among others, to procure COVID-19 vaccines.
Talking to an international news agency, Dr Faisal Sultan said, “We are in talks with China, Russia and some other countries for procurement of the COVID-19 vaccine after narrowing down our priority list.”
The special assistant informed that the coronavirus vaccine would be available in Pakistan sometime between January and March next year, and administered to health workers and senior citizens in the first phase.
“There is nothing final yet; however, I can tell you that we have to rely on more than one source,” the SAPM said, adding, “We will procure the vaccine only after its efficacy and safety is proven.”
Dr Sultan informed that the vaccine will be administered to citizens in stages: frontline healthcare workers will be the first priority; in the second stage, the elderly and at risk-population; and the common public will receive the vaccine in the third stage.
While Russia has started the distribution of its Sputnik V COVID-19 shot nationwide, China is testing its vaccines in many countries, and supply deals are being signed. Other vaccines seeking emergency use authorisation are produced by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Oxford-AstraZeneca.
Pakistan already earmarked an initial sum of $150 million to purchases the vaccine. Earlier in a press conference Dr Sultan had said that the authorities will request the government to approve more funds if required.
Last week, Nausheen Hamid, the parliamentary secretary for health, said all citizens would be administered COVID-19 vaccines free of charge, and the drive will begin in the second quarter of 2021.
Pakistan has witnessed a spike in COVID-19 cases and deaths in recent weeks. The country recorded 3,795 new infections today (Monday), the highest single-day tally since July 3.
