Pakistan Coronavirus and Vaccine Updates

[Saiyan0321]

Pakistan to vaccinate its population against coronavirus for free: Fawad Chaudhry

A test tube labelled with the Vaccine is seen in front of an AstraZeneca logo in this illustration. — Reuters/File

• Govt to inoculate people for free, says science minister Fawad Chaudhry
• Govt to import 1.1 million coronavirus vaccine doses, says minister
• Pakistan expects to get coronavirus vaccine by the end of this month

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Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said Friday that the government-sponsored coronavirus vaccines would be available to the people of Pakistan free of charge.

The science and technology minister was responding to a person's question on Twitter.



Meanwhile, in another tweet, the science minister said that the government would import 1.1 million coronavirus vaccine doses.



He clarified that while the government would be importing the vaccine, the private sector would also be allowed to do the same.

When will Pakistan get the vaccine?​

Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of National Health Services Dr Nausheen Hamid, a day earlier, said Pakistan is expected to get the first COVID-19 vaccine shipment by the end of this month.

According to Radio Pakistan, Dr Hamid said that the government was "urgently" drafting a database of all public and private medical workers to get them inoculated in the first phase.

However, the publication did not specify which vaccine and from which country Pakistan would procure it.

China's Sinopharm vaccine​

A week earlier, Chaudhry said Pakistan would purchase 1.2 million doses of coronavirus vaccine from China's Sinopharm.

"The Cabinet Committee has decided to initially purchase 1.2 million doses of the vaccine from the Chinese company Sinopharm, which will be provided free of charge to frontline workers in the first quarter of 2021," the science minister said on Twitter.



Last month, China had approved the COVID-19 vaccine developed by an affiliate of state-backed pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm, its first approved shot for general public use.

Pakistan to vaccinate its population against coronavirus for free: Fawad Chaudhry

Govt to inoculate people for free, says science minister Fawad ChaudhryGovt to import 1.1 million coronavirus vaccine doses, says ministerPakistan expects to get coronavirus vaccine by the end of this monthFederal...

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[Saiyan0321]

Pakistan secures 17 million doses of AstraZeneca​

• Special plane set to leave for China to bring Covid-19 jabs
• NCOC records over 2,000 cases, 65 deaths
• Minister says vaccine sufficient for 250,000 healthcare workers

ISLAMABAD: With a special plane expected to depart for China in the next 48 hours to bring the first tranche of Sinopharm’s Covid-19 vaccine, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan announced that around seven million doses of AstraZeneca would also reach Pakistan in the first quarter of the current year.

In his tweet, the prime minister’s aide said: “Happy to share that in addition to the 500,000 doses of Sinopharm, almost 7 million doses of AstraZeneca to be made available in Q1 and given to the public free of cost! Pakistan’s vaccine drive starts next week, beginning with frontline healthcare workers.”

The development was also shared by Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar in his tweet, in which he stated that the government had received a letter from Covax, saying that 17m doses of AstraZeneca would be provided to Pakistan in the first half of 2021.
“We signed with Covax nearly 8 months back to ensure availability,” the minister tweeted.




Out of the 17m doses, seven million will be available by March.

Dr Faisal Sultan, in his statement, said: “We are pleased to announce that the government of Pakistan, through Covax facility, has secured 17 million indicated doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, out of which 35-40pc (6-6.8 million) doses will be available within the first quarter and the rest in the second quarter of 2021.”

He said AstraZeneca had already been approved for use by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), adding that distribution of the vaccine was likely to begin in February.

“Covax’s timely support and delivery of the vaccine is testament of global stakeholders’ trust in Pakistan’s preparedness for vaccine roll-out. We remain confident that we will meet our plan of largescale immunisation over the coming months this year,” Dr Sultan added.

An official of the Ministry of National Health Services, meanwhile, said the efficacy rate of Chinese Sinopharm’s vaccine was around 80 per cent but Oxford-AstraZeneca’s efficacy was around 90pc.

“Though AstraZeneca is being prepared in India, it will come through Covax, an international alliance which has announced free vaccine for 20pc of Pakistan’s population. Drap has already registered both Sinopharm and AstraZeneca,” the special assistant said.

Talking to Dawn, Asad Umar said the special plane was all set to fly to China to bring 500,000 doses of the vaccine. He said the next tranche would arrive before the country utilised the doses from the first consignment.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre’s (NCOC) statement, the forum on Saturday deliberated at length on the vaccine administration strategy and necessary measures, particularly logistics.

“All necessary measures have been put in place for vaccine storage in Islamabad and its transfer to other federating units, particularly Sindh and Balochistan, by air,” the statement said, adding that the vaccine’s nerve centre had been established at the NCOC.

Mr Umar said the Chinese vaccine would be sufficient for 250,000 healthcare workers as two doses were required for every person.

“As 400,000 healthcare workers have registered themselves, it has therefore been decided that instead of considering the population of the federating units, the number of registered healthcare workers would be considered before dispatching the vaccine. In this way, the vaccine can be dispatched for 30pc, 40pc or 50pc of the registered healthcare workers,” he said.

The minister said as it would take two to three weeks to vaccinate healthcare workers and was hopeful that the new consignment would arrive before its utilisation.

He said the second consignment could arrive from China but as negotiations were underway with multiple sources, it could also be expected from another country.

Replying to a question, Mr Umar said it had been decided to transport the vaccine to Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by road and to Balochistan and Sindh through air.

On the other hand, an official of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) said vaccine availability had been made possible because of EPI’s efforts in ensuring development of a sound vaccine deployment plan.

“It was race against time and the collective hard work of federal and provincial EPI teams has made it possible,” the EPI official added.

Meanwhile, the NCOC data reported 2,183 new cases and 65 deaths from Covid-19 in a single day.

It further said 296 ventilators were in use throughout the country with the vent occupancy rate in Islamabad recorded at 38pc, followed by Multan, 37pc; Lahore, 35pc and Peshawar, 25pc. The data on beds providing oxygen showed that Peshawar was utilising 41pc of the beds, Karachi, 35pc; Multan, 34pc and Rawalpindi, 24pc.

The number of active cases in the country has been calculated at 33,439 with 2,566 patients admitted to hospitals.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2021

Pakistan secures 17 million doses of AstraZeneca

Special plane set to leave for China to bring Covid-19 jabs; minister says vaccine sufficient for 250,000 healthcare workers.

www.dawn.com

 

[Nilgiri]

“Though AstraZeneca is being prepared in India, it will come through Covax, an international alliance which has announced free vaccine for 20pc of Pakistan’s population.

Fawad Chaudhry has left the chat.

Wonder if Cricket chad will say thanks @VCheng ?

 

[VCheng]

Fawad Chaudhry has left the chat.

Wonder if Cricket chad will say thanks @VCheng ?

Don't expect a thanks. After all, this nation happily took in Israeli supplies when it suited General Zia and his cronies. It may be informative for one to look up the portion India contributes to the entire worldwide supply of vaccines.

 

[Nilgiri]

It may be informative for one to look up the portion India contributes to the entire worldwide supply of vaccines.

Oh I know that...heh:

Its going to be a huge portion of world total this year for corona.

Its going to be at least 3 billion doses for world in total of 3 vaccines (about 1 billion each): Oxford-astrazeneca/covax. Novavax and Johnson&Johnson:

Seems about 1 billion planned production (for each) within India in 2021. = around 2 billion shots in total. This adds on top for oxford-astrazeneca and covaxin.

There could be another billion from covaxin,....so maybe up to 4 billion doses for the world come from India this year.

 

[VCheng]

Oh I know that...heh:

Its going to be a huge portion of world total this year for corona.

Its going to be at least 3 billion doses for world in total of 3 vaccines (about 1 billion each): Oxford-astrazeneca/covax. Novavax and Johnson&Johnson:




There could be another billion from covaxin,....so maybe up to 4 billion doses for the world come from India this year.

Thank you India! :tup:

 

[Kaptaan]

Great news. And @VCheng what has Pakistan done to you that your so bitter and full of animus against Pakistan? Are you another disgruntled Mohajir with a conflicted sense of identity. And the 1947 hijrat did not give you utopia you sought and now are full of spite.

And as for any thanks goes that should be directed top UK. Astrazenca was primarily developed in cooperation with Oxford. So thank the British and Swedes. When I buy my iphone the creedit goes to US and not some sweatshop in China that makes them.

 

[Nilgiri]

And as for any thanks goes that should be directed top UK. Astrazenca was primarily developed in cooperation with Oxford. So thank the British and Swedes. When I buy my iphone the creedit goes to US and not some sweatshop in China that makes them.

A vaccine is not a consumer item of choice.

Pakistan would not be able to afford "17 million" doses without:

A) Indian economy of scale so that astrazeneca could reach around 5 dollar/shot worldwide or lower
B) The UN program that funds the covax program

With all the sky high inflation in Pakistan already, it only manages to save 7% of GDP a year after all.

So yes India plays a huge role in Pakistan getting this vaccine for free....and the cost being low for the UN in first place.

 

[VCheng]

Great news. And @VCheng what has Pakistan done to you that your so bitter and full of animus against Pakistan? Are you another disgruntled Mohajir with a conflicted sense of identity. And the 1947 hijrat did not give you utopia you sought and now are full of spite.

And as for any thanks goes that should be directed top UK. Astrazenca was primarily developed in cooperation with Oxford. So thank the British and Swedes. When I buy my iphone the creedit goes to US and not some sweatshop in China that makes them.

None of my posts above show any bitterness or animus, but are simple statements based on verifiable facts. Unlike your openly biased and indeed racist posts, I have the ability to see and call things in a fair manner, always. Please note that I will not be responding to your personal attacks any more.

Back on topic, India Pharma has spent a long time developing the abilities to provide to the world tangible benefits. The present vaccine is only one more step forward. Kudos to them!

 

[Paro]

A vaccine is not a consumer item of choice.

Pakistan would not be able to afford "17 million" doses without:

A) Indian economy of scale so that astrazeneca could reach around 5 dollar/shot worldwide or lower
B) The UN program that funds the covax program

With all the sky high inflation in Pakistan already, it only manages to save 7% of GDP a year after all.

So yes India plays a huge role in Pakistan getting this vaccine for free....and the cost being low for the UN in first place.

For what I know AstraZeneca is by far the cheapest at 3-4$. The other two are at 35$ and 20$ a dose. And the price is so low only because serum institute has taken the risk to invest in the manufacturing. If it went with a gradual scale up just to meet the Indian needs there wouldn’t have been enough stock for the rest of the world at that price.

 

[Kaptaan]

The University of Oxford, AstraZeneca vaccine is a vaccine that aims to protect against COVID-19.

Manufacturer/developer: University of Oxford, AstraZeneca

Research name: AZD1222 (ChAdOx1)
Vaccine type: Non-Replicating Viral Vector
Administration method: Intramuscular injection

NOTE: Astrazeneca is a British Swedish company. So thank you to -

 

[Kaptaan]

Pakistan would not be able to afford "17 million" doses without:

Please spare me. I know you and him think every road, every gully, every airway leads to humongous India but I am not who will fall for that rubbish. I think you know I am practicaly a athiest so that normal put down used on Pakistani's is not going to work on me. I read a lot and rely on my own informed conclusions. He thinks that Pakistan would never get or be able to afford the darned vaccines can continue to indulge in that but I know that their are plenty of other alternatives. China for a start ...

Notice how he on being informed that Oxford Astra is a Brit-Swedish vaccine quickly jumped on to India Pharma or something when that was not even the subject of discussion.

Bravo ....

 

[Saiyan0321]

This Sticky thread will contain all the info on CoronaVirus in Pakistan and Vaccine and Vaccine distribution

 

[Saiyan0321]

PM promises equal access to Covid vaccine for rich, poor​

In first phase, Imran Khan says frontline health workers treating coronavirus patients will be vaccinated
Prime Minister Imran Khan has pledged that coronavirus vaccine will be administrated "purely on the basis of criterion set by the government and without any discrimination between rich and poor" segments of the society.

“Our first priority is frontline health workers including doctors and paramedical staff treating coronavirus patients and in the second phase people over the age of 60 years [will be vaccinated]..,” said the premier in a first-ever interaction with general public via telephone on Monday.

He assured the people that the PTI government will not discriminate between rich and poor segments of the society in Covid-19 vaccination programme.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan received first batch of half a million doses of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine as gift from Chinn.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood was present at Nur Khan Airbase alongside Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong at the official handing over ceremony of the vaccines.




Responding to a question about his vision of making Pakistan a Madina like welfare state, PM Imran said his government is making all-out efforts to achieve this “big dream”.

“We don’t have any other option than to make Pakistan Madina like state but doing so will take time and requires sacrifices from all stakeholders of the society.”

On issues of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), the prime minister said that the mountainous region can be turned into a major tourism hub of the country. “Switzerland which is half the size of G-B earns $80 billion annually through tourism.”

He said the government will turn G-B into major tourist destination of the country “because it’s more beautiful and double the size of Switzerland”.

On his promise of bringing ‘change’ to the country, the premier said the reforms in the government’s institutions cannot be brought through a “magic wand”. “When we came into power, the nation thought the change will come the very next day but it can only happen in fairy tales.”

He said bringing improvement to the existing system is more difficult and time taking than building a new one. “During the last two tenures of [PPP and PML-N] country’s institutions were badly destroyed,” he added.

PM promises equal access to vaccine between rich, poor | The Express Tribune

PM Imran Khan pledges that coronavirus vaccine will be administrated purely on the basis of criterion, without any discrimination between rich and poor

tribune.com.pk

 

[Saiyan0321]

As vaccine arrives, inoculation process to start tomorrow​

(Clockwise) Temperature of students being checked at the entrance of a school in Islamabad on Monday. The government reopened educational institutions in the second phase from grade 1 to 8 after keeping them closed as a preventive measure against the novel coronavirus. Students wear face masks to protect against coronavirus while on their way to school by a rickshaw in Peshawar. Students are being helped with their bags as they arrive at their school in Karachi. A teacher sanitising a student’s hands at a school in Hyderabad. The teacher and students, wearing facemasks, performing assembly at a school in Lahore.—APP / AP / AFP / Online


• Qureshi receives first batch at Nur Khan Airbase
• Chinese envoy says Pakistan first to get free vaccine
• Doses being dispatched to federating units today

ISLAMABAD: Following the arrival of half a million doses of Covid-19 vaccine from China, the vaccination drive is set to begin across the country on Wednesday.

The first batch of the vaccines reached Islamabad early Monday morning from Beijing on a special Pakistan Air Force plane.
The process of dispatching the doses to the provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir has been finalised, but is being kept confidential due to security reasons.

In another development, Chinese company Cansino completed its clinical trial in five countries, including Pakistan, and has sent the data to the International Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) to officially announce the efficacy rate.

Meanwhile, 1,615 people tested positive and 26 fell victim to the deadly virus in a single day.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi received a batch of 500,000 doses of Sinopharm’s vaccine from Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong at a ceremony held at Nur Khan Airbase on Monday.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood, Health Secretary Aamir Ashraf Khawaja and National Institute of Health (NIH) Executive Director Maj Gen Aamer Ikram were also present on the occasion.

Mr Qureshi thanked the leadership and people of China for gifting the vaccine to Pakistan to enable it to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said the vaccine had arrived at a time when Pakistan was grappling with the second wave of coronavirus, adding that its delivery also coincided with the 70th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The foreign minister particularly lauded President Xi Jinping’s vision that the vaccine, when developed, should be of global public good, and expressed special gratitude to State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi for expeditiously sending the vaccine to Pakistan.

The Covid-19 jabs will be used to inoculate frontline health workers and will play an important role in saving precious lives, the foreign minister added.

Ambassador Nong Rong said: “I am proud to announce that Pakistan is the first country to receive the Chinese government-donated vaccine.”

“President Xi Jinping had repeatedly said that the Chinese Covid-19 vaccines, once developed and put in use, would be global public good,” Nong Rong said, adding that China had honoured its commitment.

He said: “Pakistan, as our closest friend, is the priority of our cooperation. Here, I would like to appreciate the Pakistani government for its facilitation and cooperation in the approval of the emergency use authorisation for Sinopharm’s vaccine and the phase-III trial with the Cansino company of China,” the ambassador added.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, while replying to questions of the general public via telephone on Monday, had said the vaccine would be given to the most vulnerable people.

Talking to Dawn, Special Assistant Dr Faisal Sultan said the vaccine would be dispatched to the provinces on Tuesday and hoped that the inoculation process would start at the earliest.

“Though it is being asked how many doses will be sent to each province, to me it does not matter as the second consignment will reach before the first batch runs out. I have suggested that vaccination should be started in cities and hospitals from where the most cases were being reported,” he said.

Dr Sultan regretted that there were people in Pakistan who were trying to find a conspiracy behind everything, and just like polio they would resist it.

“However, I believe that in the coming days, vaccination will become mandatory for foreign travel, including Haj. People should be aware that the vaccine is essential for them as well as for their family,” he said.

ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong speaks at a ceremony held for handing over the first batch of Chinese vaccine to Pakistan at Nur Khan Airbase on Monday. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also attended the ceremony.—White Star


A senior official of the Ministry of National Health Services, requesting not to be named, said it was a major development as Pakistan had been included in the list of countries that had stocks of Covid-19 vaccine.

“It has been decided to start inoculation from Feb 3 (Wednesday) therefore the vaccine will be dispatched on Tuesday (today). However, due to security reasons, we have decided not to disclose how and at what time it will be dispatched.

NIH Executive Director Maj Gen Aamer Ikram is the focal person dealing with the necessary logistics of the vaccine,” he added.

Cansino completes trial

Cansino Biologics Inc has completed its clinical trial in five countries, including Pakistan, and has sent the data to the International Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) to officially announce the efficacy rate.

National Coordinator for Phase III Clinical Trial of Cansino in Pakistan Dr Hasan Abbas Zaheer told Dawn that 40,000 volunteers were vaccinated in Pakistan, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Russia.

“Around 18,000 volunteers were inoculated in Pakistan. The global result is encouraging but as we cannot announce data, it has therefore been sent to the IDMC which will make it public. The results will be shared with Drap,” Dr Zaheer said.

University of Health Sciences Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Akram, while talking to Dawn, said around 6,000 volunteers were vaccinated under his university.

He said only 5pc of the volunteers developed minor fever but not a single casualty or hospital admission was reported.

“The best thing is that the vaccine is single dose and will be administered only once. Moreover another Chinese company, Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biologic Pharmacy Co. Ltd, has contacted us for clinical trial, which will be started after seeking Drap’s approval,” he said.

NCOC data

According to data of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 1,615 cases and 26 deaths were reported in a single day while the total number of active cases as of Feb 1 was recorded at 33,493.

Baqir Sajjad Syed also contributed to this story

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2021

As vaccine arrives, inoculation process to start tomorrow

The process of dispatching the doses to the provinces has been finalised, but is being kept confidential due to security reasons.

www.dawn.com