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ARY NEWS

Jahangir Khan

  • First phase: Covid vaccination drive continues in Islamabad

    First phase: Covid vaccination drive continues in Islamabad

    ISLAMABAD: The first phase of coronavirus vaccination drive has commenced in the federal capital and vaccines are being administered to the frontline health workers in different medical facilities, ARY News reported on Thursday.

    The health authorities have established vaccination counters at different locations in Islamabad. Currently, the vaccination of health workers was underway at six government hospitals of the federal capital.

    covid-19 vaccination drive islamabad first phase hospitals

    The facilities include Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Poly Clinic, CDA, Social Security, National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM) and Federal General Hospital (FGH).

    covid-19 vaccination drive islamabad first phase hospitals

    District Health Officer (DHO) Islamabad Dr Zaeem Zia said that 8,000 vaccines have been allocated for frontline health workers during the first phase of the ongoing vaccination drive. 7,000 health workers will be vaccinated and 30-minute monitoring will be observed after the administration of the COVID-190 vaccine.

    Read: PAF plane carrying first batch of COVID-19 vaccine reaches Islamabad

    Yesterday, a countrywide anti-Covid-19 vaccination drive formally started almost a year after the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the country. The campaign had been launched simultaneously in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar.

    covid-19 vaccination drive islamabad first phase hospitals

    Healthcare workers had been administered first shots of the Sinopharm vaccine at a special ceremony at the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) in Islamabad.

    Covax programme

    In another development on February 4, the Covax programme to ensure equitable worldwide access to Covid-19 vaccines had published its first distribution list, with enough doses for countries to immunise more than three per cent of their populations by mid-2021.

    covid-19 vaccination drive islamabad first phase hospitals

    The distribution plan comes with lower-income countries falling behind in the vaccination race — a problem Covax was set up to address. It broke down how the programme’s initial 337.2 million doses will be distributed, with first deliveries expected in late February.

    Some 145 countries are set to receive enough doses to immunise 3.3 per cent of their collective population by mid-2021, Covax said.

    Countries will receive doses in proportion to population size, with the most going to India (97.2 million), Pakistan (17.2 million), Nigeria (16 million), Indonesia (13.7 million), Bangladesh (12.8 million) and Brazil (10.6 million).

    Other big recipients are Ethiopia (8.9 million), the Democratic Republic of Congo (6.9 million), Mexico (6.5 million), the Philippines (5.6 million) and Egypt (5.1 million).

  • PAF aircraft departs for Beijing to bring first tranche of Covid-19 vaccine

    PAF aircraft departs for Beijing to bring first tranche of Covid-19 vaccine

    ISLAMABAD: A special aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) departed for Beijing on Sunday to bring the first batch of a China-made Covid-19 vaccine to Pakistan.

    According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), all arrangements for storage, transportation and administration of the vaccine have been finalised.

    Also Read: Pakistan to begin COVID-19 vaccination drive next week: Asad Umar

    It said all measures for vaccine distribution across Sindh and Balochistan provinces have also been finalised.

    The NCOC said a special vaccination centre has been set up in Islamabad while such centres in all provinces at a district-level are yet to be established.

    Also Read: China to gift 0.5mn doses of Sinopharm vaccine to Pakistan by Jan 31: FM Qureshi

    China had promised to gift 500,000 doses of a coronavirus vaccine to Pakistan by January 31.

    A day earlier, Federal Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar said that Pakistan will likely get 17 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine by March.

    Turning to social media via his official Twitter handle, the federal minister announced, “Good news on covid vaccine front.” He added that Pakistan received a response letter from Covax which indicated “supply of up to 17 million doses of AstraZeneca in 1st half 2021”.

  • Punjab decides launching vaccine drive to curb XDR typhoid outbreak

    Punjab decides launching vaccine drive to curb XDR typhoid outbreak

    LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to launch a special vaccination drive over fear of an outbreak of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid, citing sources, ARY News reported on Saturday.

    Sources told ARY News that the vaccine drive will be launched in the urban areas of 13 sensitive districts of Punjab including Islamabad to curb the spread of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid.

    The duration of the vaccination campaign will be two weeks in specific districts which will be initiated from February 1 to 15 to administer anti-typhoid injections to the children aged between nine months to 15 years.

    Read: Doctors report increasing typhoid cases in Punjab than COVID-19

    Earlier, the Sindh government had witnessed a record reduction in typhoid cases after completing the immunisation drive against XDR typhoid.

    In July last year, the National Institute of Health (NIH) had also issued an advisory regarding prevention and control of the extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid fever.

    The NIH had advised health officials across the country to be prepared timely for prevention and control of the extensively drug-resistant typhoid fever.

    Health authorities in the country had reported an outbreak of the XDR typhoid fever that began in the country in November 2016. The outbreak has spread to provinces throughout the country, and several deaths have been reported.

    Read: 4.8 million children inoculated against typhoid in a week

    This strain of Salmonella Typhi does not respond to most third generation antibiotics used to treat typhoid fever (ampicillin, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, and ceftriaxone), according to the NIH advisory.

    Polluted water, frozen fruits and unsafe food could cause the XDR typhoid, NIH advisory said. Wash your hands often, especially before eating and avoid eating food prepared by anyone who is sick or has recently been sick as a person could be infected from him or her.

    Schoolchildren could be an easy target of the typhoid infection, which have a duration from six to 14 days, according to the advisory.

  • DHO Swat Dr Akram Shah appointed EPI head for three years

    DHO Swat Dr Akram Shah appointed EPI head for three years

    ISLAMABAD: The District Health Officer (DHO) Swat, Dr Muhammad Akram Shah, has been appointed as the head of Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI) for three years on a deputation basis, citing sources, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

    Sources told ARY News that a BS-19 health officer Dr Muhammad Akram Shah has been appointed as the head of EPI on the deputation basis. A notification was issued by the federal government regarding the transfer of Dr Shah to the EPI Islamabad under the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination.

    dho swat dr akram shah epi head deputation

    Earlier, Dr Safdar Rana had been appointed as an acting head of the EPI. After the appointment of Dr Shah, Dr Safdar Rana has been appointed as the Director-General (DG) Health.

  • AstraZeneca seeks registration of vaccine in Pakistan: sources

    AstraZeneca seeks registration of vaccine in Pakistan: sources

    ISLAMABAD: After China’s Sinopharm, AstraZeneca has also sought approval for its vaccine from Pakistan, citing sources ARY News reported on Thursday.

    According to sources, AstraZeneca has applied for registration to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) through a Pakistani pharmaceutical company, sources said.

    The pharma company has submitted data of the clinical trials of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to the DRAP, sources said.

    The DRAP registration board is expected to register AstraZeneca vaccine in its ongoing session, according to sources. The registration board will remain in session until January 15, according to the sources at the Ministry of National Health.

    After being registered the COVID-19 vaccine could be used in Pakistan.

    AstraZeneca has been a British-Sweden joint multinational pharma company, which has produced the vaccine in collaboration with the Oxford University.

    The vaccine, approved by the British Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority, is said to be effective for people of all age groups and could be stored in home refrigerators.

    The DRAP registration board in its current session will also likely to approve registration of China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine.

    Sinopharm had recently sought permission from Pakistan for emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine in the country.

    Pakistan has announced to buy 1.2 million doses of the corona vaccine from Sinopharm, a state-run Chinese firm, which is developing two COVID-19 vaccines.

  • EPI, NADRA start training of special staff for COVID-19 vaccination: sources

    EPI, NADRA start training of special staff for COVID-19 vaccination: sources

    ISLAMABAD: The experts of Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) have initiated the special training sessions of staff ahead of launching anti-coronavirus vaccination drive, citing sources, ARY News reported on Monday.

    The institutions have commenced training sessions of the staff for COVID-19 vaccination and record management system which will be completed in phases across the country, sources told ARY News. The training sessions will be continued till January 15.

    The trained staff will administer vaccine shots to front-line health workers during the first phase of the country-wide vaccination drive.

    Read: Sindh announces district committees for COVID vaccination

    During the ongoing sessions, the health authorities are giving training to the groom master trainers, whereas, the sessions for master trainers for provinces will be completed till January 11.

    The master trainers for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) are also being trained at Islamabad, whereas, master trainers are receiving sessions at the provincial offices of the EPI.

    The master trainers will conduct training sessions at district and tehsil level in provinces from January 11-15, sources added. The Expanded Programme on Immunisation will conduct the corona vaccination drive and will assist the health department in the first phase of vaccination, the sources added.

    Read: Covid vaccine will be free for all citizens, announces PM’s aide

    Earlier in December last year, the federal government had prepared the National Immunisation Management System (NIMS) with the joint efforts of different ministries for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines across Pakistan.

    The federal government had finalised the National Immunisation Management System (NIMS) which was jointly prepared by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC), Ministry of Interior and the National Information Technology Board (NITB), according to National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

    The NCOC had said that the preparation of NIMS aims effective supplies of COVID-19 vaccines across the country after collecting accurate data prior to the administration of the vaccines to the nationals.

  • COVID-19 vaccination: Centre seeks healthcare workers’ data from provinces

    COVID-19 vaccination: Centre seeks healthcare workers’ data from provinces

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has started preparations to launch the first phase of COVID-19 vaccination drive as the federal government sought data of healthcare workers from the provinces, citing sources, ARY News reported on Thursday.

    The federal government sought records of healthcare workers from all provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) regions ahead of launching the first phase of COVID-19 vaccination drive across the country.

    COVID-19 vaccines will be administered to frontline health workers who are performing duties in corona wards in different government and private facilities which would be completed in two levels, sources told ARY News.

    Read: Frontline workers to get Covid vaccines in first quarter of 2021: Fawad

    Under the strategy devised by the federal authorities, the first phase the vaccination drive is likely to be launched in the beginning of March to administer vaccines to more than 500,000 healthcare workers. The remaining health workers will be given coronavirus vaccines during its second level.

     

    covid-19 vaccination drive first phase healthcare workers pakistan

    Sources privy to the development said that each healthcare worker will be administered two vaccines. The Centre has also sought recommendations for the upcoming coronavirus vaccination campaign, whereas, it was decided to scrutinise health workers’ data to be provided by the provinces.

    The federal government will prepare the final list of healthcare workers after holding consultation. It was also decided to procure 1.2 million vials of COVID-19 vaccines from a Chinese company Sinopharm, added sources.

    Read: Federal govt prepares national immunisation management system

    Meanwhile, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) organised a special session for discussing the implementation of the strategy to begin COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Pakistan.

    A special session has been organised by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) ahead of implementing the strategies devised for initiating COVID-19 vaccination programme.

    covid-19 vaccination drive first phase healthcare workers pakistan

    The session was attended by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Khusro Bakhtiar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar, Surgeon General of Pakistan Army Lieutenant General Nigar Johar Khan, Director General Military Operations (DGMO) and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) chairman, whereas, Commerce Advisor Abdul Razak Dawood joined the meeting through video link.

    Read: China gives its first COVID-19 vaccine approval to Sinopharm

    The chief coordinator for NCOC, Lieutenant General Hamooduz Zaman updated the participants of the special session regarding the strategy formulated to begin COVID-19 vaccine administration across the country.

    The participants of the session have exchanged views on the national strategy for COVID-19 vaccination and relevant statistics of the pandemic.

  • Pakistan in contact with six companies to get coronavirus vaccine

    Pakistan in contact with six companies to get coronavirus vaccine

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is in talks with six international coronavirus vaccine producing companies for the purchase, ARY News reported, citing sources.

    According to sources, Islamabad is in contact with six companies of the four countries of the world including, the United States, China, the United Kingdom and Russia to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

    “The government is currently in talks with Pfizer, Johnson & Johson from the US, CanSino and Sinopharm from China, Oxford University and Sputnik V from Russia.”

    The sources said that they were also mulling over the profiles of the six coronavirus vaccines.

    Sources further added that Pakistan has two major demands from the companies providing the COVID-19 vaccine which included that it should have an Emergency Use Authorization [EUA] certificate from WHO and should provide it on an immediate basis to the country.

    Read more: Pakistan reports 63 coronavirus-related deaths in past 24 hours

    It was further learned that the US and the UK companies cannot provide the vaccine to Pakistan as Pfizer and Oxford University are fulfilling the domestic need for the vaccine. “Johnson & Johnson company has already denied Pakistan.”

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr. Faisal Sultan on December 17 said that COVID vaccine will be available in Pakistan in February or March 2021.

  • Another Chinese pharma seeks permission for COVID vaccine trials in Pakistan

    Another Chinese pharma seeks permission for COVID vaccine trials in Pakistan

    ISLAMABAD: Another Chinese pharma company has expressed interest in clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccine in Pakistan, ARY News reported on Saturday, citing sources.

    Sources privy to the development said, another Chinese company named Zafai Longcom has contacted the Drug Regulatory Authority Pakistan (DRAP) and expressed its desire for clinical trials of COVID-19 in Pakistan.

    The Chinese company has requested the DRAP for cooperation in this regard.

    A letter sent to the DRAP said that Zafai Longcom is a local pharmaceutical company in the Chinese province of Inoue, which has developed the corona vaccine in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and now wants clinical trials of possible vaccines in Pakistan.

    The letter said that the clinical trials of the vaccine would be carried out in collaboration with a local pharma company. For the trials, the company wanted to transfer vaccines and test kits to Pakistan.

    Read more: Phase-III trials of Chinese Covid-19 vaccine to begin in Pakistan in ’10 days’: Asad Umar

    The company is currently testing its vaccine on 29,000 volunteers.

    It may be noted that before this company, another Sinopharma of China has also conducted its clinical trials in Pakistan.

    Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar earlier had said that Pakistan is all set to participate in the Phase 3 trials of a Chinese developed coronavirus vaccine.

  • Federal govt decides strict implementation of COVID-19 SOPs

    Federal govt decides strict implementation of COVID-19 SOPs

    ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided the strict implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) across the country after witnessing a consistent rise in novel coronavirus infections and fatalities during its second wave, citing sources, ARY News reported on Saturday.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan issued orders for strict adherence of COVID-19 SOPs across the country besides directing provinces to comply with the government’s strategy to curb the virus spread, sources privy to the development told ARY News.

    The provincial chief secretaries will supervise the stern implementation of the prevention measures in all provinces with the assistance of local administrations, said sources, adding that the violators will face penalties like fines and sealing of properties.

    federal govt strict implementation covid-19 sops imran khan

    A weekly review session will be organised in each province by the chief secretary to look over the SOPs’ implementation and the reports will be sent to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

    Read: Punjab clamps smart lockdown in more areas of Lahore, other cities

    The latest decision was taken in view of the worsening situation of pandemic across the country which had been discussed in the previous session of NCOC. The central monitoring centre to keep an eye on COVID-related development had earlier decided strict effectuation of prevention measures, sources said.

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan had also briefed PM Imran Khan regarding the lack of implementation of COVID-19 SOPs which led the consistent increase in infections. The premier had expressed concerns over the non-implementation of SOPs.

    Later, PM Khan issued orders for strict adherence of COVID-19 SOPs across the country besides directing provinces to comply with the government’s strategy to curb the virus spread, said sources.

    COVID-19 statistics

    The statistics of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) showed that the coronavirus pandemic claims 87 more lives, whereas, 3,179 new infections were reported during the last 24 hours.

    federal govt strict implementation covid-19 sops imran khan

    In the past 24 hours, 87 more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 9,250. 4,649 patients have recovered from the virus during the last 24 hours and 2,486 patients are in critical condition, however, no critical case was added in today’s tally.

    Read: COVID-19 fatalities recorded highest in Punjab during 24 hours: NCOC

    The total count of active cases is 40,922 and the positivity rate is recorded up to 6.61 per cent.

    According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), with fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 451,494.

    A total of 48,075 tests were conducted across the country during this period. Overall 404,501 people have recovered from the deadly disease so far while 6,264,135 samples have been tested thus far.