As countries world over work towards the development of a Covid-19 vaccine, governments are trying to figure out how it could reach more people in lesser time. Prime Minister Imran Khan recently approved a recommendation for placing orders for a coronavirus vaccine in advance. The same was revealed by Parliamentary Secretary for Health Ministry Dr Nosheen Hamid, who mentioned the government has so far contacted two firms that are developing a vaccine for the virus. Pakistan aims to immunize 10 million citizens in the first phase, with frontline workers and the elderly being top priority. While appearing on Geo Pakistan, Hamid stated that the coronavirus vaccine will be free of cost.
“The government is collecting funds for the vaccine. People will start receiving the vaccine in the second quarter of 2021. The vaccine will be injected for free,” she said. “When the coronavirus infection first broke out in the country, we had one laboratory but now there are more than 150. We also increased beds for patients and ventilators as well. We have increased oxygen beds by 2500 because we need them more than ventilators,” added Hamid.
She went on to state that the Pakistani government has already decided on the prebooking of the Covid-19 vaccines, adding that the NCOC is also overlooking the process. The strain of the second wave of the novel coronavirus has been a serious one in Pakistan, leading to the country revising its safety guidelines. Educational institutions have been shut down, indoor weddings have been banned and outdoor gatherings are now limited to a total capacity of 200 people. Those not wearing masks will be fined as well. These measures have been taken for the safety of the people and as a faster way to contain the spread of the pandemic.
