Good news for all the Pakistani as they receive the first Covid-19 Sinopharm vaccine shipment from China containing half a million doses of the vaccine!

Pakistan Receives the Coronavirus Vaccine

Pakistan has received its first doses of the coronavirus vaccine, with China donating half a million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine to Pakistan, the health minister says. Pakistan received 500,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine as the country gears up to kick start its immunization drive later this week. A Pakistani military aircraft carrying the shipment landed in the Pakistani capital Islamabad early on Monday, Dr. Faisal Sultan said.

The vaccines were flown in from China on a special plane of the Pakistan Air Force. The consignment was formally handed over to Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi by Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong at Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi.

“Alhamdulilah (by the grace of Allah) the first batch of Sinopharm vaccine has arrived! Grateful to China and everyone who made this happen. I salute our frontline healthcare workers for their efforts and they will be first to get vaccinated,” tweeted Dr. Faisal Sultan, Advisor on Health to Government.

Pakistan will start its vaccination drive later this week, beginning with frontline health workers. So far, over 400,000 health professionals have applied for the jabs. Next, citizens over 65 years would be vaccinated; their registration will start in 10 to 15 days, according to Planning Minister Asad Umar.

Apart from the free vaccine doses which arrived on Monday, Pakistan will buy another 1.1 million dozes from China, while international vaccine alliance Covax has promised 17 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in the first half of the year.

At the ceremony in Nur Khan Air Base, Qureshi said China had once again given a practical demonstration of its unending friendship with Pakistan. “This year is even more significant as it marks 70 years since we established diplomatic ties. We have planned to celebrate [the milestone] and open new doors of cooperation and friendship,” he said.

The minister appreciated the top Chinese leadership and its Army for critical help in tackling the pandemic.

Chinese Ambassador Rong said Pakistan is the first country to receive the COVID-19 vaccines for free from the Chinese government. He said China sees Pakistan as its “closest friend” and “priority for cooperation.” On 70 years of diplomatic ties, Rong said, “Our friendship is higher than mountains, deeper than the sea, and sweeter than honey. Our hearts grow closer in the joint fight against COVID-19.”

Prime Minister Imran Khan said that his government would provide anti-Coronavirus vaccine to everyone without any discrimination. “Rich and poor will not matter. We will try to cover as many people as possible,” he said. The government plans to administer the vaccine to the entire population during the current year, Radio Pakistan quoted Khan as saying. Prime Minister Imran Khan also said that the frontline health workers would be vaccinated in the first phase followed by elderly people and those with medical conditions.

Education Institutions

Meanwhile, all educational institutions in Pakistan, from nursery to college/university level, were returned on Monday following a more than two-month closure because of a second wave of the Covid-19. Pakistan had reopened schools and universities in September 2020, following a five-month break because of the virus outbreak during the lockdown. Nonetheless, a subsequent infection wave prompted all instruction organizations getting shut on 25 November. Pakistan had opened schools for grades IX to XII on 18 January. Other education institutes were to resume on 1 February. According to the guidelines, strict compliance with COVID-19 standard operating procedures is mandatory for everyone. And SOP violation will cause fines. Students of each section have been divided into two groups and each group will attend classes for three days a week.

COVID-19 Cases Update!

The number of people recovered from COVID-19 cases in Pakistan has reached 501,252, according to the Ministry of National Health Services. With the 1,615 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, the country’s virus caseload stands at 546,428. The death toll is 1,683, including 26 deaths in the last 24 hours. Authorities said 2,092 COVID-19 patients are in critical condition.

The vaccines have finally arrived, making the nation more relieved. We will get the vaccine but it is going to take a while for everyone to get it. But for now, we must and should know about the ‘coronavirus vaccine and its side effects’ as well, keep yourself updated and make sure you do not violate SOPs, and keep your regular precautions with you. Make sure you keep your immune system healthy and perfect to fight for the virus until you get the vaccine. And even after getting the vaccine keep yourself protected. Every human body is going to react differently to a newly invented vaccine. Stay protected.