Pakistan has on Wednesday (today) accepts a contribution of 500,000 Sinopharm vaccine doses from China to maintain the ongoing immunization drive against the deadly pandemic.

The Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan announced that the next batch of Sinopharm vaccine was received by China today.

In his tweet, the minister on health wrote, “The next batch of Sinopharm vaccine was received today. These 500,000 doses will ensure the smooth continuation of our vaccination drive, currently underway for senior citizens. We’re grateful to China for their support. This gesture is a testament to our long-standing friendship.”

The next batch of Sinopharm vaccine was received today. These 500,000 doses will ensure smooth continuation of our vaccination drive, currently underway for senior citizens. We're grateful to China for their support. This gesture is a testament to our long-standing friendship pic.twitter.com/fbS3kfmFQc

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— Faisal Sultan (@fslsltn) March 17, 2021

Earlier in the day, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar tweeted, “Highest daily vaccination rate of over 41 thousand vaccinations achieved yesterday [Tuesday].

Umar said that out of 41,000 vaccinations, 28,424 were administered to elder citizens across Pakistan.

Furthermore, he urged elderly people to register themselves for the vaccination program.

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Highest daily vaccination rate of over 41 thousand vaccinations achieved yesterday. Of these 28, 424 vaccinations were carried out of senior citizens. Please encourage everyone who is 70 plus to register to get vaccinated.

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) March 17, 2021

Previously, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) had approved the Sinopharm vaccine against COVID-19 for people over 60 years of age.

The National Command and Control Centre (NCOC) had said that the Sinopharm vaccine was being administered to people up to the age of 60 years, however, it would now be used to inoculate citizens above 60 years of age too.

The body had also allowed China’s Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine for inoculations to register health workers over 60 years.

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Sinopharm COVID-19 Vaccine Gifted By China

On January 3, Pakistan had received 500,000 doses of Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine gifted by China by a special Pakistan Air Force (PAF) plane.

SAPM on Health Dr Faisal Sultan and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had informed about the Sinopharm vaccine’s arrival.

Taking to Twitter, SAPM Dr Faisal Sultan praised China and everyone who made this happen and said the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) and provinces played an effective role in tackling COVID-19.

“I salute our front-line healthcare workers for their efforts & they’ll be first to get vaccinated,” he tweeted.