Govt to import 45m doses of Indian vaccine

The government has decided to import coronavirus vaccine from India, Planning Minister Asad Umar, who heads the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), confirmed to Express News on Wednesday.

According to the report, 45 million doses will be imported from the neighbouring country under Gavi vaccine alliance. In this regard, the report added, matters have been settled and a formal announcement would be made on March 17.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is Geneva-based an international organisation created in 2000 to improve access to new and underused vaccines for children living in the world's poorest countries. Currently, the alliance is playing an active role in the provision of Covid-19 vaccine.

Late on Tuesday, Indian media outlet ‘Times Now’ broke the news on its Twitter handle, saying: “Pakistan to receive 45 million doses of Indian-made Covid vaccine under the GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccinations & Immunizations) vaccine alliance.”

According to the Express News, 15 million doses will be ordered in the first phase while the remaining 30 million doses will be imported during July to December period. Umar confirmed that an agreement was reached last year to import vaccines from India through Gavi, the report added.

India, one of the largest vaccine producers in the world, is also one of the worst affected nations by the coronavirus epidemic. On Wednesday, the India’s Covid-19 tally stood at 11.26 million cases, with 17,921 new cases registered during the past 24 hours.

The health ministry said in New Delhi that there was a decrease of 2,864 active cases during the previous 24 hours, but the number of daily active cases had been on the rise over the past few days, as another wave of Covid-19 looms large over the country.

(WITH INPUT FROM AGENCIES)