Intending pilgrims to get Pfizer shots: Asad

Minister inaugurates vaccination centre at Centaurus Mall

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiative Asad Umar inaugurated a Covid vaccination centre at Centaurus shopping mall in the federal capital on Thursday. Speaking on the occasion, he said that with the start of vaccination centres in different public places, the burden on hospitals would be shared and more people would be able to get the vaccine.

He stated that on the request of the government to come forward in this cause, the chamber of commerce and traders of the city have extended their full support to the government in its ongoing vaccination process as the trader community was affected badly from the virus.

The minister said that so far the federal capital was leading with regard to vaccination against Covid. He said that due to a limited quantity, the Pfizer vaccine would be available only for intending Hajj pilgrims, Pakistani students studying abroad or overseas Pakistanis having work visas.

Umar maintained that the government has already established a mass vaccination centre at F-9 Park to vaccinate 7,000 citizens daily through 75 counters. He added that 100 trained professionals would remain on duties and standard services would be provided to the citizens at the centre.

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He further said that it is the responsibility of every eligible citizen to get themselves vaccinated against the deadly virus. "We want to end all restrictions as early as possible, including the reopening of educational institutions and markets, but it depends on meeting the target of the maximum number of vaccination in the country," he added.

Meanwhile in Rawalpindi, the total district tally of coronavirus vaccination reached 397,397 with the inoculation of 12,824 more persons against the deadly virus during the last 24 hours.

According to fresh data released by the District Health Authority (DHA), 26,198 health workers and 371,199 citizens have received their doses so far. The report said that DHA has registered 33 new infections on Thursday, including 31 from Rawalpindi and two from outside the district while three people lost their lives to the deadly virus.

It further updated that patients reported during the last 24 hours include eight from Rawal Town, three from Potohar, eight from Rawalpindi Cantt, nine from Kahuta, and two each from Islamabad and Gujar Khan. Presently, 62 confirmed patients were admitted to various facilities of the city with 17 at Holy Family Hospital, 14 at Benazir Bhutto Hospital, 18 at Institute of Urology, nine at Fauji Foundation Hospital, three at Bilal Hospital and one at Hearts International," it added.

Moreover, the Punjab government has directed all government employees along with their families to get vaccinated by June 30. The government has summoned a report in this regard from the heads of all institutions.

A letter was sent to secretaries posted in different departments, to the Punjab inspector general of police, divisional commissioners, and deputy commissioners (DCs) of 36 districts. They have also been directed to send an implementation report on July 1.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2021.