Pakistan govt. changes guidelines for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

The government of Pakistan has changed guidelines for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Earlier Pfizer vaccine was reserved for Hajj pilgrims, overseas students, and workers, but now it will be only given to people with weak immunity.

The National Ministry of Health has said the decision has been made in view of the agreement with COVAX.

Pakistan received 106,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine through COVAX earlier this month.

In the first phase, 51,000 doses will be divided among the provinces as follows:

• Punjab: 26,000
• Sindh: 12,000
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 8,000
• Balochistan: 2,000
• Islamabad: 1,000
• Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 100
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 1,000

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr. Faisal Sultan said that the Pfizer vaccine will be distributed in 15 cities nationwide for people with low immunity.

The Pfizer shot will be available at government vaccination centres for the time being and the government would soon buy more doses, he added. 

Sindh Health Secretary Qasim Soomro on Monday said that the province expected to start administering the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine to pregnant women and students enrolled in foreign universities within this week.