ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has asked all those people who are above 30 years of age to get vaccinated as soon as possible in order to prevent Covid-19 infections.
In a message on Sunday, NCOC asked the above 30 people to get register by sending the CNIC number to 1166 prior to visit the vaccination centres.
“Walk-in facility for above 40 years also needs prior registration ” NCOC added in its public awareness message.
In its social media campaign, NCOC said that vaccines protect individuals and communities. “Vaccination not only protects you, but it also protects those who cannot be vaccinated,” it mentioned.
Meanwhile, Pakistan received another batch of Covid vaccine from China on Sunday comprising 1.2 million doses.
According to sources privy to details regarding vaccine arrival, 1.2 million doses of the Chinese vaccine will reach Islamabad on May 16. “The doses included a million jabs of China’s Sinovac vaccine and 200,000 vaccines of single-dose CanSino,” they said.
The sources further shared that another batch of two million Covid vaccine Sinovac will reach Islamabad on May 21.
Pakistan is already vaccinating its population over 40-year old, besides the NCOC on Wednesday allowing citizens aged 30 and above to sign up for Covid-19 vaccination from Sunday.
Taking to Twitter, Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar, who heads the NCOC, had said on Saturday, “As vaccine supply continues to improve and vaccination capacity gets enhanced in all federating units, we continue to expand the categories of those who are eligible to get vaccinated.”
“Starting Sunday the 16th of May, registration will be open to all 30 years and older citizens.”
An official of the Ministry of National Health Services, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, had said that 22 million people fell in the age bracket of 30 to 40 years.
“The number of people over 50 years is 27m and around 12m are in the age bracket of 40 to 50 years. Overall 61m people have been allowed to get themselves registered for vaccination. As many as 39m people can avail the walk-in facility at the centre of their choice,” he had said.
The official had said that registration of over 30-year age group would start from May 16 and as soon as a considerable number of people got listed, the vaccination process would start.
“There are around 40m people in the age bracket of 18 to 30 and the NCOC is trying to allow their registration at the earliest,” he had said.
Replying to a question, the official had said that Pakistan was making arrangements to procure more vaccines from China and the Accountant General of Pakistan had released $6m for 1m more doses of Sinovac vaccine.
“By the end of the current month, production of the vaccine will also start at the National Institute of Health. Moreover, we will get millions of doses under Covax in the coming months,” he had added.
