ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Thursday it expects to receive 2.8 million doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine on March 2, its first batch under the GAVI/WHO COVAX vaccine initiative, and will start giving doses to the over 60s.
Pakistan, which has recorded more than 550,000 cases of COVID-19 and more than 12,000 deaths, is still largely reliant on the GAVI/WHO COVAX initiative, which aims to supply COVID-19 vaccines to poorer nations. The country began its COVID-19 vaccination program only this month, with 500,000 doses of Sinopharm's vaccine donated by long-time ally China.
Frontline health workers are being vaccinated first.
"I can confirm according to the information we've been given that we will receive 2.8 million doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine as part of the COVAX," health minister Faisal Sultan told a news conference.
He said the vaccine will be used to start a public vaccination program for people above the age of 60.
Pakistan is also one of the first countries that plans to allow the private sector to conduct vaccinations and its drug regulator issued guidelines on Thursday for private companies to set up centers to administer COVID-19 vaccines.
The private sector has an integral role in terms of ensuring safe and secure COVID-19 vaccinations in addition to the public sector, the drug regulator said in a notice announcing the guidelines.
"The standard operating procedures (SOPs) are being developed for AVCs (Adult Vaccination Counters) in order to ensure (a) smooth vaccination process," it said.
Last week Pakistan allowed the commercial import and sale of vaccines without price caps, in contrast to most countries, which are importing and administering vaccines through government channels.
The guidelines say private firms will be responsible for identifying and enlisting prioritized people for vaccination, monitoring, surveillance, management, communications and cold-chain management.
The firms will ensure training of nurses and skilled staff in vaccine administration, infection prevention and control, and use of recording and reporting tools on prescribed formats.
The centers will share daily reports with government health management teams.
Pakistan to receive 2.8 mln doses of AstraZeneca vaccine under COVAX scheme on March 2
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Pakistan to receive 2.8 mln doses of AstraZeneca vaccine under COVAX scheme on March 2
- In contrast to most countries, Pakistan recently allowed the commercial import and sale of vaccines without price caps
- The country began its COVID-19 vaccination program this month, with 500,000 doses of Sinopharm's vaccine donated by China
Pakistan PM’s aide urges parents to vaccinate children against polio in campaign starting Feb. 2
- Islamabad last year conducted six campaigns that reduced cases to 30 from 74 in 2024
- Pakistan targets more than 45 million children in first immunization campaign of 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan prime minister’s focal person for polio eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq on Saturday urged parents to ensure their children are vaccinated against the disease as the country gears up to launch the first nationwide immunization campaign of this year on Feb. 2, seeking to curb the spread of the virus.
Polio is a highly infectious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. The only effective protection is through repeated vaccination for every child under five.
Pakistan aims to vaccinate more than 45 million children against polio during the first nationwide immunization drive of 2026, according to the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC).
The anti-polio campaign will be launched on Feb. 2 and run till Feb. 8. It will run simultaneously in Pakistan and Afghanistan, which are the only two countries where polio remains an endemic.
“Public cooperation is crucial for polio eradication,” Farooq said in a statement. “Parents must ensure that their children receive polio drops in every campaign.”
The NEOC last year conducted six nationwide campaigns against poliovirus in Pakistan, where cases came down from 74 in 2024 to 30 in 2025.
Farooq said more than 400,000 polio workers will go door-to-door to administer polio drops to children, urging communities to cooperate with vaccinators.
“Religious scholars and the media should play an effective role in polio awareness,” she added.
