Pakistan sets new vaccine record with 2.2 million doses administered in one day

Islamabad: Pakistan broke its previous record for most COVID-19 vaccines administered in a single day, with 2.24 million doses reported on Friday, according to health officials.

The country ser “another record” with 2.24 doses administered on February 10. “We have vaccinated more than 2 million each day” during the last four days, announced Asad Umar, the chief of the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), which oversees the country’s pandemic response.

“Every 3 out of 4 Pakistani eligible for vaccination have received at least 1 dose” and around “58% are fully vaccinated,” he said.

Around 40 per cent of Pakistan’s 220 million population is now fully vaccinated. Nearly 115 million have received at least one dose, according to NCOC data. Pakistan has also administered over 3.3 million COVID-19 booster shots nationwide.

The South Asian country accelerated vaccination with a national door-to-door COVID drive to curb the rise in daily infections driven by the infectious Omicron variant.

The campaign is aimed at vaccinating nearly 35 million eligible citizens above 12 years at their homes. More than 55,000 mobile teams will carry out door-to-door drives, offering both vaccines and booster shots to citizens, during the two-week campaign that began on February 1.

PM’s aide on health affairs Dr Faisal Sultan has urged the citizens to make the best of the home facility. “Only vaccine can protect you. I advise people to go for vaccination against the virus to avoid facing more complications and hospitalization,” he said.

Pakistan reported 39 deaths and 3,498 infections in the last 24 hours. Pakistan’s daily positivity rate has now dropped to 6 per cent after averaging the highest-ever 12 per cent end of January.