Pakistan on Monday approved the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for emergency use in the country that will be administered to those with low immunity and those above 40 who wish to perform Hajj.
Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) granted permission to use the vaccine under section VII of the Drug Act 1976.
The DRAP Registration board has approved the vaccine’s use for children older than 12. It can also be administered to those with low immunity — including pregnant women — and those above 40 who wish to perform Hajj.
Pakistan receives 1st batch of Pfizer vaccine
At least 1 lac doses of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine have been received by the country through Covax on Saturday followed by shipments of diluents and syringes.
Moreover, the vaccine arrival’s announcement was made by Unicef Pakistan on Twitter which also commended Pakistan for the “successful rollout of the countrywide Covid-19 vaccination campaign, excellent arrangements at vaccination centres and inclusion of all above 18 years of age”.
UNICEF further wrote, “Over 100,000 doses of @pfizer #COVID19 vaccine via #COVAX have arrived in Pakistan Flag of Pakistan. Shipments of @pfizer diluents and syringes will be arriving over the next two days. The vaccines will be used for @GovtofPakistan’s ongoing #COVID19 vaccination campaign.”
It added, “The shipment of Pfizer #COVID19 vaccines is the second consignment of vaccines received by Pakistan via #COVAX. Earlier this month, @UNICEF had led the efforts to procure and deliver more than 1 million doses of #AstraZenaca vaccine to @GovtofPakistan on behalf of #COVAX.”
“#COVID19 vaccines are safe & effective. If you are 18 or above, please send your CNIC (without space) to 1166 and get registered in @GovtofPakistan’s #COVID19 vaccination campaign. No one is safe until everyone is safe. Get #vaccinated and continue to follow #SOPs.”
This is the second batch of vaccines, the country received the Covax facility after it received the first shipment earlier this month consisting of 1,238,400 doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine.
