KARACHI: The Chinese Sinopharm vaccine for Covid-19 is being sold in Karachi’s Central District, revealed Focal Person for Covid-19 Vaccination Center Dr. Hira Zaheer on Saturday.
Dr. Hira Zaheer said she informed the Sindh Health Secretary in writing that the Sinopharm vaccine was being misused in the Central District of the city.
The focal person further said Office Assistant Afaquddin taking advantage of his position providing the vaccine at homes in exchange for money. Along with the complaint, Dr. Hira also attached the COVID-19 vaccine registration form one of three minors who were vaccinated in their homes earlier the day.
The focal person for the Covid-19 vaccination center has requested the health secretary to take notice of the matter. According to Dr. Hira, this process has been going on for a long time and people of 19 and 20 years of age are being vaccinated in the assistant offices, storerooms and houses.
On which she forbade the office assistant several times but he did not give up and she was compelled to inform Sindh health department. Earlier, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr. Faisal Sultan had announced that that the coronavirus vaccine would be free for all citizens in Pakistan
On May 17, the Punjab government had suspended 18 officials who were charging citizens for COVID vaccination in the province. As per details, after receiving complaints the Punjab Primary and Secondary Health Department conducted an inquiry that revealed the staff was saving the masses from waiting in the long lines for vaccination after taking money.
Though the vaccine is being provided to the people free of cost at all government hospitals, however, 18 health officials were found taking money from the citizens for COVID vaccination at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI).
The employees were served show-cause notices and after confirmation of the charges, the 18 officials including Nawaz Joban, Sajjad Ali, Muhammad Tanvir, Babar Ali, Karamat Ali, Amjad Ali, Taimur Fayyaz, Muhammad Yousuf, Faqir Hussain, and others have been suspended by the health department.
