Securing the vaccine
Whenever Pakistan is in a fix, officials rely on the international community to provide assistance and relief. The same is the case in the current pandemic. With the number of Covid-19 cases surging by around 30% in the country, there is an imminent threat of a third, much more dangerous, wave. However, the government has made it clear that it has no plans to buy vaccines at least during the current year, hinting towards the lack of financial capability. The National Health Service (NHS) Secretary has told the Public Accounts Committee during a recent briefing they will solely rely on international donors and friendly countries to fight the virus and achieve herd immunity.
While Pakistan has received 0.5 million doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccine, of which 275,000 doses have been administered to health professionals, another 16 million free doses of the Indian-made Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine are expected to arrive in June, courtesy the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation — which will hopefully cover 20% of the population. Furthermore, according to a survey conducted by the NHS, around 15% of the population has developed anti-bodies and don’t need to be immunised. Unfortunately, officials will still fall short of their initial plan of vaccinating 70 million people this year. It remains to be seen as to how they plan on achieving the task. Considering our diplomatic ties with Russia, perhaps trying to procure the Sputnik V vaccine may be a suitable option.
First World countries like the US, Canada and Britain have already secured millions of doses way before the intended deadline, leaving poor regions vulnerable and as potential breeding-grounds for new mutated variants of the virus. Therefore, it is absolutely essential for Pakistan to chart out a plan and invest significantly in buying the vaccine in order to inoculate the general public and secure their future. Soon the world will start asking for vaccine certificates to restore safe travel for business and tourism purposes. Officials need to stop playing the ‘poor card’ and put their money where their mouth is for the benefit of the entire nation.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 8th, 2021.
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