Pakistan on Monday announced that it has developed a local vaccine – PakVac – with the help of China’s Cansino Bio after rigorous quality control checks. A major achievement in its fight against the novel coronavirus? Yes, indeed!
“Congratulations to the NIH (National Institute of Health) Pak team and its leadership for successful fill/finish (from concentrate) of the Cansino vaccine with the help of Cansino Bio Inc. China,” Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr. Faisal Sultan wrote on his official Twitter handle.
The step is aimed at significantly reducing Pakistan’s dependence on other countries for COVID-19 vaccine.
The country started its vaccination campaign in February with doses donated by the government of China. The campaign started with frontline healthcare workers and then inoculation of the senior citizens in the second phase.
‘Over 250,000 people got COVID vaccine in a single day’
Later, Pakistan launched the vaccination drive for the general public in March, starting with older people. The drive began with a focus on the oldest people in the community, generally, over the age of 80. Pakistan has now started the vaccination of people aged 30 and above. Over five million people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the country so far.
On Monday, over two hundred and fifty thousand people administered the COVID vaccine in a single day for the first time.
In a tweet, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar told the registered people to visit the vaccination centers at the earliest for vaccination. “Those who need the second dose must timely get the vaccination,” he added.
Sadly, Pakistan witnessed 92 more deaths and 2,253 new COVID-positive cases during the last 24 hours.
According to the National Command and Operation Center, 46,726 tests were conducted during the period and the positivity ratio remained four point eight 2%. The death toll due to the pandemic in the country has now reached 20, 400.
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