Pakistan to Take Final Decision on COVID-19 Vaccine Procurement ‘Soon’
Federal cabinet informed country has achieved self-sufficiency in medical equipment required to treat pandemic patients
Special Assistant to the P.M. on Health Dr. Faisal Sultan on Tuesday told the federal cabinet that a final decision on which COVID-19 vaccine would be procured would be taken “soon,” adding that the government was monitoring inbound travelers from the U.K. to curb the spread of a more infectious strain of the virus.
The meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan, was briefed on the ongoing second wave of the pandemic. Dr. Sultan claimed that Pakistan had achieved self-sufficiency in the manufacture of medical goods and ventilators, masks and other items needed to combat COVID-19. Following the briefing, the cabinet approved the release of Rs. 219.30 million for the Ministry of Health for the recently-completed Isolation Hospital and Infections Treatment Center in Islamabad. Dr. Sultan has maintained the center would help reduce the burden on hospitals in the federal capital.