ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) on Thursday announced that people over the age of 18, including those working abroad on work visas, students studying abroad and seafarers, can now get themselves vaccinated against Covid-19.
Such people can simply walk into any coronavirus vaccination centre, show a valid visa, and get vaccinated, the NCOC said.
The decision was taken as several countries around the world, incorporations, various employers, universities, shipping companies have made vaccination mandatory, the NCOC said.
The vaccine aspirants will have to carry their valid passport, visa or iqama to the vaccination centre, the statement said, adding that once the vaccine is administered, a certificate for it will be issued on NADRA’s website.
The NCOC said as per the vaccination guidelines issued by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation, and Coordination, AstraZeneca would be administered to people above 40-years, while people above 18-years will be inoculated with Sinopharm, Cansino, and Sinovac. The duration between the two doses is 12 weeks for AstraZeneca, 3 weeks for Sinopharm, and 4 weeks for Sinovac.
Punjab and Sindh’s health departments also announced that they are starting vaccinations of people above 18 years who were aspiring to travel abroad. In Punjab, citizens can contact 1033 for queries, the provincial health department said.
Meanwhile, Sindh’s health department said the vaccination centre at Expo Centre Karachi would remain open for 24 hours and seven days a week for people who are unable to get vaccinated during business hours.
The country, since the beginning of the vaccination drive in February which first opened for healthcare workers, has inoculated more than 4.7 million people, with 211,986 jabs being administered in the last 24 hours.
