LAHORE: Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid has advised the people of Pakistan to vaccinate against COVID-19 at their “own risk”, citing side effects of the vaccine.
Talking to journalists in Lahore today (Monday), Dr Yasmin Rashid said it was not yet possible to say for sure how long the coronavirus vaccine remains effective. “No one, not even COVID-19 patients, will be vaccinated by force,” she added.
“Research on the treatment of the coronavirus pandemic is still going on all around the world. We will make the public aware of the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine,” the provincial minister added.
Citing examples, she said that there have been deaths due to the COVID-19 vaccine in some countries as well. “Therefore, everyone will be vaccinated at their own risk,” he added.
“The National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) would provide the vaccines to the entire country from Wednesday,” she said. “Health workers in both private and public hospitals would be given free COVID-19 vaccines,” she added.
Referring to COVID-19 protocols, she said that the provincial government has lockdowns 18 neighbourhoods of Lahore at present, noting that the number of infected patients was gradually declining.
Commenting on medical seats, she said, “Seats for medical students have not been reduced for any province, including Sindh,” adding, “False propaganda is being spread about a reduction in the number of seats in medical colleges,” she claimed.
