The drive will begin in March, says Asad Umar
Lady health workers waiting for their turn at the vaccine centre in Mayo hospital, Lahore. Photo: Online
People who are 65 years old and above can now register for the COVID-19 vaccine in Pakistan.
Registrations opened on Monday (February 15).
The announcement was made on Twitter by NCOC Chief Asad Umar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan.
Pleased to announce that registration for getting covid vaccine is now open for all citizens 65 and above. Just write down ur CNIC number and send message on 1166. Inshallah vaccinations for this age group will start in march
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) February 15, 2021
Asad Umar says vaccinations for people in this age group will begin in March. Frontline health workers are being inoculated right now. The are being given the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine.
All Pakistanis above the age of 65 can start registration for COVID-19 vaccine starting today. Send an SMS from any mobile phone with your CNIC to 1166 or visit https://t.co/k54c4ijqtL to get registered. Vacc center and date of appt will be communicated once vaccine arrives
— Faisal Sultan (@fslsltn) February 15, 2021
Here’s how to get the vaccine:
A dashboard will be created in real-time to update government health departments at the district, provincial and federal levels.
Pakistan will receive 17 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine through the Covax facility. Authorities in Pakistan have said that this might be the shot given to the elderly as the Sinopharm vaccine is currently not recommended for those over 65 years.
The first batch of seven million doses is expected before April, according to the UK government.
“The next 10m doses will come later, likely before June,” adds UK government’s statement. “This will help protect 8.5m people from the virus, which has already claimed over 12,000 lives in Pakistan.”