Pakistan launches COVID-19 vaccination drive, starting with elderly

Pakistan on Wednesday launched a COVID-19 vaccination for the general public, starting with older people, as it grapples with a high degree of vaccination hesitancy among its 220 million people.

The drive will begin with a focus on the oldest people in the community, generally over the age of 80, Health Minister Faisal Sultan said.

"We will work our way down in coming days," Sultan told Reuters.

According to a survey released last week, nearly half of healthcare staff had concerns over China's Sinopharm vaccine, which is the only one available in Pakistan for now.

Pakistan distributed 504,400 Sinopharm vaccine doses to provincial authorities by February 20, and 230,000 frontline health workers had got a shot by Friday, Sultan said.

Pakistan has recorded 595,239 coronavirus cases and more than 13,000 deaths, with 1,786 infections and 43 deaths reported in the last 24 hours.

Pakistan has not secured any supplies from vaccine manufacturers and is largely depending on the GAVI/WHO COVAX initiative for poorer nations and donations from old ally China.

Authorities have opened up almost all of sectors of society but on Wednesday reversed a decision to reopen cinemas and marriage halls.

Schools will also be closed again for two weeks from March 15, they said.