Photos: Pakistan begins COVID-19 vaccination of senior citizens

Heath workers get information from people before vaccination them to a Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine at a vaccination center, in Karachi. Pakistan has started vaccinating people who are 60 years old or above to protect them from COVID-19 amid a steady increase in cases and fatalities from the disease.

Heath workers get information from people before vaccinating. Pakistan on Wednesday began vaccinating elderly people aged 60 years and above against the novel coronavirus, according to Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Faisal Sultan.

Pakistan started its COVID-19 vaccination drive in February after the arrival of Chinese vaccine doses, with the frontline health workers given the priority for inoculation. Above, senior citizens wait to receive a vaccine against the COVID-19 coronavirus, at a vaccination centre in Islamabad.

Last week, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan further approved the emergency use of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for people over 60 years of age.

Pakistan began inoculating the elderly at a time when daily new COVID-19 cases have been on the rise since it eased coronavirus restrictions late last month.

Pakistan reported 1,786 new confirmed cases and 43 more fatalities in the past 24 hours, bringing its total tally to 595,239 with 13,324 deaths, according to data released by the Health Ministry on Wednesday.

"The vaccinations will be done in reverse order by age, which means the oldest person who has registered will be vaccinated first," Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiative Asad Umar said, who is spearheading the country's fight against the pandemic.

Pakistan was also likely to receive 17 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine by end of June.

Pakistan was also in touch with other countries to get 73 million doses of the vaccine, which were likely to receive in the last quarter.

A senior citizen receives a dose of vaccine at a vaccination centre in Peshawar.

Senior citizens wait to receive the vaccine against the COVID-19 at a vaccination centre in Islamabad.