Pfizer jabs to be first given to those traveling to countries not accepting Chinese vaccines
Pakistani citizens intending to go for Hajj this year as well as those who have valid work and study visas issued by countries, which do not currently recognize Chinese vaccines, would be given priority for the administration of Pfizer, NCOC chief Asad Umar confirmed on Thursday.
Pakistan had received a limited quantity of 100,000 doses of Pfizer this month via the UN COVAX facility. However, Umar added that Pakistan would soon receive more doses of Pfizer – the vaccine jointly developed by German company BioNTech and US firm Pfizer.
Pfizer vaccine was found to be 100% effective in preventing severe disease as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and 95.3% effective in preventing severe disease as defined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Minister Asad Umar also urged all countries to accept all vaccines especially the WHO-approved vaccines.
“If every country decides to accept only their choice of vaccine [brands], the entire world would suffer,” he said, adding that Chinese Covid-19 vaccines were the most exported brands in the world at present.