Islamabad,
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday kicked off Pakistan’s COVID-19 vaccination drive, once again reminding the people to continue to exercise precautions.
Under the supervision of the prime minister, his adviser on health Dr Faisal Sultan, and National Command and Operations Centre chief Asad Umar, the first vaccine was administered in Pakistan given to a healthcare worker in Islamabad.
“The more you abide by coronavirus safety measures, the easier it will be to protect everyone from the virus,” said PM Imran Khan, addressing a gathering to mark the occasion.
“I congratulate all those present here for working at great speed to import a vaccine. We also thank China for gifting us 500,000 vaccines,” he said.
The prime minister said that similar to the shot the doctor had received, healthcare workers across the country that work with coronavirus patients will be the first to be given the jab, after which the age groups most at risk will be administered the shot.
The premier also sought to assure the nation that the vaccine distribution across the various provinces is being done in a “just” manner. “No one should think we distributed more vaccines in a given province than in others.”
He stressed the importance of healthcare workers getting the shot as “all over the world it is the healthcare workers that are most at risk”.
“I also wish to stress to the nation the importance of coronavirus SOPs (standard operating procedures) and especially, wearing a mask.
#Live: PM @ImranKhanPTI addressing a ceremony in Islamabad https://t.co/5ERWCcwxic
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) February 2, 2021
The prime minister said that schools have been reopened and so will hospitals soon enough. “Our cases are at a decline right now. The more you follow SOPs, the easier it will be to save our people from coronavirus.”
He said that other countries, owing to the high death rate, have had to go for complete lockdowns.
“Our economy is running and it is the service sector that has been curtailed. If you exercise caution, then all remaining sectors will be reopened,” PM Imran Khan said.
Provinces to begin vaccination drive tomorrow
China’s gift of 500,000 vaccines arrived in Pakistan on Monday, with storage arrangements made in advance in Islamabad.
Dispatch of the vaccine to all federating units has been ensured, said the NCOC in a statement today. It said Sindh and Baluchistan were sent the vaccine by air, presumably to reduce time and ensure cold chain storage temperature.
It was earlier reported that Sindh will receive 8,300 doses which will be transported to Karachi via a commercial flight.
A ceremony will be held at the Chief Minister House on Wednesday to kick-start the vaccination drive in Sindh, during which 41,500 healthcare workers will be vaccinated.
Meanwhile, the Balochistan government has asked the federal government to increase its quota of COVID-19 vaccines as 5,000 doses can not cater to the province’s requirement.
While talking to local broadcaster, the provincial government’s spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani said there are 22,000 healthcare workers in the province.
This post was originally published on VOSA.
