Pakistan on Tuesday launched the locally produced single-dose PakVac COVID-19 vaccine under the supervision of Chinese experts.
Beijing transferred the technology, and the raw material for the vaccine to Islamabad in April this year and the vaccine has been prepared and packed at the state-run National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad with the help of China.
PakVac vaccine has been developed by China’s state-run pharmaceutical company Cansino after rigorous quality control checks.
Cansino was the first Chinese vaccine to have undergone clinical trial in Pakistan and was administered to around 18,000 people.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan said that the is an opportunity in every difficulty. He also added that during the pandemic, China stood out as a friend of Pakistan.
“China was already a friend and came forward when coronavirus [hit Pakistan],” said Dr Sultan.
He also appreciated the NIH for developing the vaccine.
Developing the vaccine from raw materials is not an easy task. [We are] proud of the people that developed the vaccine at the NIH,” said Dr Sultan.
He said that the vaccine has passed through internal quality assurance testing, considering it an important step to help the vaccine supply line.
Pakistan develops homemade anti-Covid PakVac vaccine
According to sources, the first batch of CanSino vaccine was being processed at the National Institute of Health’s plant which was particularly set up for this purpose last month. NIH would be in a position to produce three million doses of the vaccine which will considerably reduce the dependence of the same on other countries.
So far, Pakistan has received more than 13 million doses of Covide-19 vaccines, consisting of Sinopharm, Sinovac, and CanSino, purchased from China including others.
National Assembly has been informed on Friday that Pakistan has started local production of the anti-Covid-19 vaccine. Vaccination for people over 30-years has been started in the country.
Although the intensity of the Covid-19 in Pakistan has been reduced yet still there is a need to follow the SOPs.
