ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s central pandemic response body announced its decision to reduce the age limit for COVID-19 booster shot on Friday, saying citizens over 18 years of age would be eligible to receive one free dose of any coronavirus vaccine from Saturday.
The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) took the decision in its meeting earlier in the day, as the number of fresh COVID-19 cases continue to increase in the country.
According to official statistics, Pakistan recorded 3,567 new cases of the virus in the last 24 hours and reported seven deaths.
The infection rate in the country has substantially gone up since the emergence of the omicron variant of the virus which spreads more rapidly than its other types.
“In Todays NCOC session, age limit for booster dose has been further reduced,” the NCOC announced in a Twitter post. “From tomorrow onwards, citizens over 18 years will be eligible for free booster dose of their choice. Booster (one dose) will be administered after 6 months gap from complete vaccination.”
In Todays NCOC session, age limit for booster dose has been further reduced. From tomorrow onwards, citizens over 18 years will be eligible for free booster dose of their choice. Booster (one dose) will be administered after 6 months gap from complete vaccination.
— NCOC (@OfficialNcoc) January 14, 2022
The pandemic response body informed that 48,449 COVID-19 tests had been conducted in Pakistan during the last 24 hours, taking its positivity ratio to 7.36 percent.
It added there were 675 critical care patients in the country.
Amid the ongoing surge in coronavirus cases, Pakistan’s planning minister Asad Umar recently asked people to get themselves inoculated.
He also urged fully vaccinated citizens to get a booster shot, if they had taken their second dose more than six months ago.