Vaccination results

The federal and provincial governments deserve credit for the declining trend in coronavirus cases in the country. The positivity ratio of Covid-19 has now fallen to below one per cent in Pakistan. On Nov 13, the infection rate stood at 0.68%, with only 231 persons having been detected with the disease on that date. The falling trend has been continuing for more than a month. This is an encouraging situation considering that the incidence and mortality rates of coronavirus were around ten times greater when the pandemic was at its highest level, establishing Pakistan as one the most successful countries in the region in the battle against the dreaded illness.

The federal government launched a systematic vaccination campaign earlier this year and set the target of immunising 70 million people by the end of 2021. So far, more than 50% of the population has been administered at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine. This is a good progress showing that the authorities have managed the vaccination drive in an efficient manner, and all those associated with the fight against the scary disease worked with full empathy with the people. The highest rate of immunisation has been registered in Islamabad, Mandi Bahauddin and Mardan. Vaccination needs to be accelerated in Hyderabad, Karachi, Quetta, Mingora, Mardan and Faisalabad. The Sindh government has launched a door-to-door vaccination campaign with the aim of immunising the maximum number of people. K-P is the second province where half of the population has been given at least one dose of the vaccine.

However, people should not be complacent. The special assistant to the PM on health has motivated the unvaccinated to get vaccinated as the risk of contracting Covid-19 is still there, sounding a warning that a fifth wave might hit the country. This should be taken in all seriousness as a new variant of the virus has been detected. Moreover, the winter season is conducive to fast spreading of the virus. The grave coronavirus situation in Eastern Europe should also be kept in mind.