ISLAMABAD: Health minister Faisal Sultan on Saturday said he had already registered for COVID-19 vaccination, as he requested others above the age of 60 to do the same.
Pakistan began its COVID-19 vaccination program earlier this month, with 500,000 doses of Sinopharm’s vaccine donated by China, starting the drive by vaccinating frontline workers.
As it announced last week that it expects to receive 2.8 million doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine in early March, the South Asian country is now expanding the vaccination campaign to all health workers and persons above 60.
Pakistani Health Minister Dr. Faisal Sultan. (Photo courtesy: Social media)
“Happily. I just registered,” the minister, who himself is in the age group, said in a tweet.
No one is interested to receive chinese vaccines.... Khud pai try marain PTI k Dr.
— Zayn Aly (@engr_8_work) February 20, 2021
He urged others to do the same as he shared further instructions for those willing to register.
“Pak Covid-19 vaccination, next phase — now that we have expected arrival of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in early March, all those 60 years of age and older are now requested to begin registration,” Sultan said in a tweet, as he shared further instructions for those willing to register.
Pak Covid-19 vaccination, next phase - now that we have expected arrival of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in early March, all those 60 years of age and older are now requested to begin registration. Send CNIC as SMS to 1166. You will receive a reply with instructions on next steps
— Faisal Sultan (@fslsltn) February 20, 2021
In its fight against the virus, it has so far approved for emergency use China’s Sinopharm and CanSinoBIO vaccines, AstraZeneca’s vaccine developed with Oxford University and Russia’s Sputnik V.
The country of 220 million people has recorded nearly 570,000 cases of COVID-19 and more than 12,500 deaths.
