Moderna jabs arranged in 14 dists

A large number of people facing uncertainty due to the unavailability of coronavirus vaccines required for travelling abroad are likely to get some relief as Punjab health department has finally received the supply of Moderna vaccine, which is accepted in most countries as an alternative to AstraZeneca.

The provincial government received 300,000 doses of Moderna vaccine from the federal authorities that were delivered to the vaccination centres for their administration to the citizens requiring them from Monday.

However, in first phase the Moderna vaccination will be available in 14 districts of Punjab, including Lahore.

A large number of people intending to travel abroad from Punjab were repeatedly visiting the vaccination centres and protesting due to the shortage of AstraZeneca vaccine before the federal and provincial governments decided to resolve the issue by starting administering the Moderna injections from Monday.

Protests were held against the unavailability of the vaccine in several cities during the past month. During a protest at the Expo Centre in Lahore, a mob forcibly entered the building after smashing its glass windows and doors.

The protesters were demanding AstraZeneca vaccination because it was required to enter several countries. However, the Punjab government did not receive the vaccine despite making continuous efforts in this regard.

After negotiations to solve the problem, the federal government started supplying Moderna vaccine and handed over 300,000 doses to Punjab.

Read Pakistan receives 2.5m Moderna jabs from US

"Moderna is acceptable for journey abroad as the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has approved it. Our target now is to start the vaccination in the big districts,” a senior official of Punjab health department told The Express Tribune.

He said the vaccine would be offered in Lahore, Gujranwala, Chakwal, Jehlum, Sialkot, Gujrat, Rahim Yar Khan, Sahiwal, Multan, Sargodha, Rawalpindi, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur and Faisalabad in the initial phase.

The vaccine will be available at the largest vaccination centres of the 14 districts.

However, in Lahore it will be available at the Expo Centre in Johar Town and LDA Sports Complex near Minar-e-Pakistan, the official added.

However, Punjab health department spokesperson Sayed Hamad Raza said in reply to a question, “AstraZeneca vaccination is still not available. We are expecting that it will also be available after the coming three days.”

He said more supply of Moderna vaccine would also be arranged soon for other districts of the province.

A spokesman for the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department said provincial Secretary Sara Aslam had issued orders to start the Moderna vaccination.

The vaccine will be given after seeing the visa, airline ticket and documents related to foreign residence. It will also be administered to patients suffering from serious health problems, he said.

The spokesman said a strict monitoring and checking system would be adopted to ensure that only the eligible citizens were offered the vaccine.

Concerns about transparency in the vaccination process arose after some incidents of theft of medicines from hospitals and arrangement of the vaccines of choice by their officials were reported in the past.

According to sources, many influential people have already approached senior officials for getting the Moderna vaccine, while a large number of citizens deserving them have been waiting for the facility since long.

"No such practice will be allowed and Moderna vaccine will be given on merit as the department has already established a monitoring system to allay public concerns in this regard,” the spokesman for the primary and secondary healthcare department added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2021.