In this Feb 2020 file photo, Sindh Minister for Health Azra Pechuho speaks to the media in Larkana. INP/File
KARACHI: There would be some delay in getting the Covid-19 vaccines from the federal government, earlier planned to be handed over to the Sindh government by Jan 15, the provincial health minister stated on Tuesday.
“The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) had earlier communicated that the vaccines would be delivered by mid-Jan. But, we have just been informed that there would be some delay in this process,” said Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho in a statement.
Preparations, however, were in full swing to formulate a policy plan and set up a comprehensive vaccination management and information system at the divisional level, she added.
In this file photo, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan addresses the media. APP
ISLAMABAD: While Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho had stated that the federal government would supply 250,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses to the province by mid-January, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan seems to be reluctant to confirm the date.
“We are trying to get 1.1 million doses of the vaccine at the earliest but I cannot commit when the vaccine will be received. If I give a date of Jan 16, I might prove myself wrong on Jan 17. I have not heard Dr Pechuho’s statement therefore it would not be appropriate to comment on it. However, time to time we contact each other and I can surely say that she is a very competent and responsible woman,” Dr Sultan said while talking to
Islamabad: Pakistan is likely to have a COVID-19 vaccine by the middle of this month and the Sindh health department has requested people under 59 to volunteer for the vaccine trial.
The provincial government has also approved the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Karachi’s International Centre for Chemical & Biological Sciences (ICCBS) has initiated the process for induction of volunteers.
These volunteers will undergo trials and for this purpose the provincial government has allocated PKR 50,000 (Dh 1,140) along with other expenses for each volunteer.
According the health department, senior doctors will carry out complete tests of the volunteers including blood, ECG, X-Ray, COVID-19 PCR and urine.