ISLAMABAD: People who were fully vaccinated against coronavirus now accounted for just over 10 percent of Pakistan’s total eligible population, whereas 40 percent of them have been administered at least one dose, an official said.
The government launched a nationwide vaccination drive, starting with older people and frontline healthcare workers, in March. The drive began with a focus on the oldest people in the community, generally over the age of 80, and worked its way down.
Having to deal with vaccination hesitancy and a shortage of vaccine supplies initially, Pakistan hit the ambitious target of 1 million inoculations a day in August, relaxing the requirement of holding a national identity card for vaccination and allowing people to get their jabs by showing any valid identity.
Initially, the government had to deal with vaccination hesitancy and a shortage of vaccine supplies and had limited shots to people aged 30 or over.
But with purchases from China and allocations from the World Health Organisation and the GAVI Vaccine Alliance, the government has now secured sufficient doses and is keen to get them out into the population.
The government has also allowed private companies to import vaccines and has exempted the vaccines from price caps in a divisive move that health experts fear will create vast inequalities in access.
The government has ramped up restrictions targeting unvaccinated individuals, with vaccination checks now required for entering shopping malls, for employees in both the private and public sector, and even for purchasing fuel in Punjab. In a similar manner, Sindh has blocked SIM cards of unvaccinated.
Speaking with Pakistan Television, Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services Dr Nausheen Hamid Monday said the national contagion rate was observing a steady decline and recalled the nation has reported a transfer ratio below 5 percent after about a month.
The decline in daily new cases was a welcome omen but the public ought to stick to health guidelines as the danger had not subsided. For the next few years, people would have to continue the use of face masks, hand sanitisers and avoid large gatherings.
“If the public ignores the guidelines, there is a risk that cases might surge again”, she warned.
Ruling out prolonged quarantines, Hamid said vaccination rates would have to be increased and new restrictions be placed on unnecessary public gatherings.
She said booster shots were not yet necessary for the general people but confirmed that after achieving the task of 70 percent vaccinations by year-end, the government would begin the rollout of booster jabs.
