Second batch of Sinopharm vaccines arrive in Islamabad

The second batch of the Sinopharm vaccines from China to inoculate the population against Covid-19 arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday.

PM's Assistant on Health Dr Faisal Sultan received the 0.5 million jabs at the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi, the ministry of health said.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Faisal said China has always extended a helping hand to Pakistan in crucial times and thanked the Chinese government for its generosity.

The shipments are being received as part of a phased process. The vaccines, which will be shifted to the warehouse of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), are being administered to the frontline health workers and people above the age of 60 years across the country.

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Earlier in February, a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) aircraft brought home the first consignment of Covid-19 vaccines from China. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi received the batch from the Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong at a ceremony at the Nur Khan Airbase.

“Thank God, the first batch of Sinopharm vaccine has arrived! Grateful to China and everyone who made this happen,” Adviser to Prime Minister on health Faisal Sultan said in a statement released on Twitter. “I salute our frontline healthcare workers for their efforts and they’ll be first to get vaccinated,” he said.

Qureshi had thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for supporting Pakistan in the fight against the pandemic.