Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health, Dr Faisal Sultan on Tuesday said that corona vaccine would be available in Pakistan by March next.
The priority would be given to health workers and the people of above sixty five age regarding vaccination, he stated in an interview with a private television channel.
“We are in touch with three companies for purchasing the coronavirus vaccine, “ he stated. Commenting on second layer of COVID-19, he said: “It was a dangerous layer that had affected a large number of people around the world.”
Commenting on second wave of #COVID_19, SAPM on National Health Services @fslsltn says it is more dangerous and has affected a large number of people around the world @ndmapk #CoronaVaccine #coronavirusinPakistan https://t.co/73fh9AimTY
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) December 23, 2020
He urged the general public to adopt the standard operating procedures (SOPs), to protect the family members from the spreading virus.
About purchase of vaccines, the SAPM said that government did not impose any restriction to private sector for purchasing corona vaccines.
Pakistan initiated trials of China-made vaccine
Pakistan has initiated trials of the China-made vaccine in Pakistan against coronavirus. China provided Pakistan with the vaccine developed by Chinese biotech CanSino Bio in partnership with the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology. Up till now, the vaccine has given positive results, anticipating that the effort would meet its desired results.
Read more: Are Pakistan’s health systems prepared for a COVID-19 vaccine?
The vaccine has given the desired results in China and did not report any side effects. The vaccine is under trial in various countries including Mexico, Russia, Chile, Argentina, Saudi Arabia. Pakistan has been allotted 8000 recruits out of a total of 40,000. The trials are being conducted in five centers in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore.
Dr. Faisal had also said that the federal government has allocated funds to get the vaccine. The vaccine will be administered to people in phases. However, the frontline doctors and medical staff will be the first ones to be administered the vaccine.
Read more: Pakistan in talks with China, Russia to get vaccines
Then, the elderly population will be administered the vaccine in the next phase. SAPM added that the vaccine will be available to people free of cost.
APP with additional input by GVS News Desk