ECC approves $150 million grant to book COVID-19 vaccines

$150 million technical supplementary grant has been approved by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to book coronavirus vaccines from international manufacturers.

According to the details, the decision was taken after evaluating a proposal submitted by the Ministry of National Health Services in a meeting held on Friday and chaired by Finance Advisor Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh.

It was informed in the meeting that this would be the first phase of procurement and the vaccine’s amount would serve the five percent of the most vulnerable population; health workers and the population above the age of 65. The vaccine would be provided to around 10 million people covered under the above arrangement.

Furthermore, ECC had directed the ministry of national health services to discuss the proposal with the World Bank and other donors in coordination with the economic affairs division so that they can provide the financial facilities to buy the vaccine during the first phase and for the procurement of additional quantities in future as needed.

ECC also instructed the ministry to prepare a proposal regarding the pricing and risk reduction mechanism for the procurement of the coronavirus vaccine for provision on a wider scale, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders.

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