ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Monday announced that almost 48 per cent of the country’s eligible population has been administered vaccines against Covid-19.
This was stated during a ceremony at the NCOC head office that was held to acknowledge the services of the provincial and district vaccination teams for achieving targets and making efforts to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the ceremony, shields and appreciation letters were given to those districts and provinces that achieved the target of vaccinating more than 60 per cent of the population and to those three remote districts that achieved maximum vaccination targets despite limited resources and difficult terrain.
According to the statement, “Till December 31, 2021, the vaccination of 71.5 million individuals has been completed. Only in December 2021, the vaccination of around 21.5 million people has been ensured and the credit goes to the provinces.”
Speaking on the occasion, NCOC head and Planning Minister Asad Umar advised people to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) amid a rapid increase in Omicron cases across Pakistan.
The minister said the people who were not vaccinated so far must get vaccinated at their earliest, adding that the people aged 30 and above should get a booster dose if they got their second jab six months ago.
The minister also lauded the efforts of all ground workers, vaccination teams, NCOC, health workers and federal as well as provincial agencies for coordinated efforts that helped to make the campaign successful.
The district teams which received appreciation certificates and shields include Jhelum, Mianwali, Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Attock, Bhakkar, Sargodha, Lodhran, Karachi South and East, Chitral Lower and Upper, Mastung, Chaman, Lasbela, Harnai, Awaran, Surab, Naseerabad, Hunza, Ghizer, Mirpur, Tharparkar, Orakzai and Neelam.
The top three districts who achieved the target of vaccinating maximum population include Kalat (87%), Karachi South (82%), Islamabad (77%), while the three districts of the remote areas who achieved vaccination targets despite difficult terrain and limited resources include Orakzai (54%), Neelam (56%) and Tharparkar (51%).
