ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reportedly received new doses of US pharmaceutical company Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccines.
According to reports, around 14,000 doses of the vaccine arrived at the Islamabad International Airport aboard a foreign airline. The vaccine was stored in ultra-cold chain refrigerators and handed over by airport officials to the Extended Programme on Immunisation (EPI) for shifting it to its main warehouse.
Pakistan has signed an agreement with Pfizer for procurement of 13 million doses of the vaccine and the country is likely to receive more doses of the vaccine this month. Last month 100,600 doses of Pfizer vaccine were provided to Pakistan under the Covax programme.
The vaccine would be administered to people with chronic diseases and compromised immunity. People traveling abroad will also get the Pfizer shot at specified vaccine centres.
Last month, Special Assistant on National Health Services Faisal Sultan said Pakistan has made an agreement to procure 13 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer.
Faisal Sultan said the doses would arrive by the end of 2021 under an agreement the government has made with the manufacturer.
The country faced initial vaccination hesitancy and a shortage of vaccine supply but it started a mass vaccination campaign late last month that is now open to all adults.
On May 29, Pakistan received 100,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine through the COVAX facility, but they are being administered to people who are immunocompromised and not suitable for other vaccines. Pakistan has primarily used Chinese vaccines — Sinopharm, CanSinoBio and Sinovac — in its inoculation drive.
