Video: An overview of COVID-19 vaccines in Pakistan

Registration for the COVID-19 vaccine opened on April 1 for everyone above 50 years in Pakistan. They can receive the government’s Sinopharm vaccine free. SAMAA Health discusses the latest updates on the three other coronavirus vaccines authorised in the country.

Cansino

Vials of CanSino Biologics Ad5-nCoV vaccine. Photo: China Daily

• 60,000 doses received March 30
• These were bought from China
• The government will distribute them
• Up to 3 million doses expected by mid-April
• These will be prepared and packaged in Pakistan  This vaccine is known as CONVIDECIA
• It is single dose-reserved mostly for people over 80

Sinopharm

Photo: AFP

• 500,000 doses received on March 31
• These were bought from China, not donated
• We had one million doses already donated by China
• It has two doses and is being given to people over 50 for free

Sputnik V

Photo: sputnikvaccine.com

• Russian vaccine’s 50,000 doses reached Karachi March 18
• It was imported by AGP Limited
• There was a row over this between the Sindh High Court and AGP. AGP said that the government allowed import of the vaccine first and then withdrew the pricing clause
• It has two doses

AstraZeneca-Oxford

Photo: AFP

• 17 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine have been delayed
• These are being provided by the WHO-led COVAX for free
• India’s Serum Institute is producing it
• It has two doses