Pakistan approves AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use
Country has reported 516,770 cases and 10,908 deaths from coronavirus
Islamabad: Pakistan has approved the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, the health officials confirmed on Saturday.
Pakistan’s Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has “granted emergency use authorization to AstraZeneca-Oxford coronavirus vaccine,” Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health, Dr. Faisal Sultan’s office confirmed Gulf News.
Pakistani officials have been negotiating with different Chinese, Russian and western vaccine developers. Earlier, the country announced the procurement of 1.2 million doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccine but it is currently awaiting approval by DRAP.
Pakistan, which is battling the second wave of coronavirus, formally approved the vaccine developed by British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca and Oxford University. The vaccine was first authorized in the U.K. The AstraZeneca-Oxford is cheaper and easier to store as it requires standard refrigeration. It is said to be between 70 percent and 90 percent efficient in preventing COVID-19.
Priority list
Pakistan has announced to provide coronavirus vaccines free of charge to its citizens. Pakistan’s frontline healthcare workers would be at the top of the vaccine priority list. Initially, the vaccine would be administered to the healthcare workers and people over 65 years of age.
Pakistan has also signed up for COVAX global alliance for vaccine immunization, and expects to receive between around 50 million coronavirus vaccines, Dr Sultan said. Meanwhile, Pakistan government recently allocated $250 million initial funds for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccine to ensure timely access and availability of doses.
Pakistan has reported 516,770 cases and 10,908 deaths from the COVID-19, according to official data.