ISLAMABAD: COVID-19 vaccinations for people aged 30 years and above in Pakistan will kick off on Saturday, the country’s planning minister, who also heads the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), said in a tweet.
So far, 1,193,441 people have been vaccinated across the country, which remains in the throes of a third resurgence of the virus. The death toll in Pakistan from COVID-19 crossed the 20,000 mark on Friday.
“In today’s (Friday) NCOC meeting it has been decided to open up vaccination for 30 years and older starting tomorrow. The messages for those who are being scheduled will go out today,” Umar tweeted on Friday.
Pakistan’s vaccination drive began for the elderly in March this year, using vaccine donations coming in from neighboring China. The vaccine rollout was gradually expanded to include other age groups, with the latest coverage announced for ages 30 and above bringing a significantly younger age bracket into the inoculated fold.
On Friday, the National Assembly was informed by the Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services that local production of a single shot Chinese COVID-19 vaccine, CanSino, has begun in Pakistan and would be available for use by the end of the month.
