Sindh devises initial plan for Covid vaccination

Support for storage, logistics to be provided under EPI

Preparing ahead for Covid-19 vaccination, the Sindh government shared its initial strategy for immunisation against the contagion with the Centre on Wednesday, stating that the Sindh Expanded Programme for Immunisation would be providing significant assistance for the vaccines' storage and logistics.

In a letter addressed to special assistant to the prime minister on national health services, regulations and coordination, Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazl Pechuho said Covid-19 vaccines were expected to arrive in the country by March next year and the provincial government had started identifying human resources needed for carrying out vaccination.

The provincial health department will also identify fixed sites for vaccination and "engage private partners for support in the implementation of the plan".

Further seeking the federal government's assistance, the Sindh health department has asked the Centre to extend help for establishing a cold storage with cold chain maintenance. It has also sought the Centre's help for logistics, setting up a database of vaccinated citizens and protocols for vaccination.

"The Covid-19 vaccination will be an important tool to stop the pandemic in Pakistan," Dr Pechuho wrote in the letter. "And it is only possible if all the stakeholders join hands and contribute efficaciously towards achieving this goal."

The letter was also discussed in a National Command and Operation Centre meeting on the day. The meeting agreed that health workers would be vaccinated in the first phase of immunisation and citizens aged above 60 would be given priority in the second phase. Officials who attended the meeting told The Express Tribune that the National Database and Registration Authority could be of significant help in carrying out the vaccination process.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2020.