Pakistan’s National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has announced reinstating the mandatory testing for 2% of incoming travellers and procurement of 500,000 doses of Pfizer’s latest COVID-19 vaccine (2023-24 formula) in January 2024 amid the rapid global spread of the new COVID-19 variant, JN.1.
Testing incoming travellers would help identify and tackle the JN.1 variant at the country’s entry points, including major airports like Islamabad and Karachi, the officials said. However, the authorities are concerned about the shortage of testing kits and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) at these entry points.
“On the directives of caretaker federal Health Minister Dr Nadeem Jan, surveillance at the country’s points of entry, including airports, has been increased and 2 percent mandatory testing for COVID-19 has been resumed to detect JN.1 variant of SARS-CoV-2 or coronavirus,” the NCOC official told media on January 3.
Although the country’s COVID-19 positivity remains low, the National Institute of Health (NIH) issued an advisory on the prevention and control of the JN.1 sub-variant, classifying it as a Variant of Interest (VOI) linked to the omicron variant.
NIH advisory
JN.1’s rapid global spread has prompted the NIH to issue an advisory, emphasizing the importance of timely actions and healthcare preparedness.
“The objective of this advisory is to alert and facilitate the health authorities and other stakeholders for ensuring timely preventive and control measures encompassing preparedness to deal with increased workload expected in the outpatient and in-patient departments during the next few weeks,” the NIH stated.
Despite its high transmissibility, current statistics suggest low morbidity and mortality for JN.1.
“Clinical presentation of JN.1 infection is similar to other sub-variants including cough, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, sneezing, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and altered sense of smell. However, symptom presentation depends on an individual’s immunity from vaccination and previous infection. It’s important to know that existing vaccines, tests and treatments still work well against JN.1,” the advisory stated.
Screening on Borders
Dr. Nadeem Jan, the Federal Health Minister emphasized the importance of continued vigilance, stating that while the chances of the virus reaching Pakistan are low, caution is paramount.
“We have been monitoring the situation. It is a sub-variant of the Omicron but has not been reported in Pakistan yet. I believe there will be fewer chances that the virus would travel to Pakistan as we are vigilant but there is need to be more careful,” he said on January 2.
He further announced an escalation in screening measures at international borders, accompanied by increased testing for individuals.
“We have increased screening at international border and testing of the people. Moreover, provincial and district governments have been also directed to increase testing,” he said.
Pakistan to get updated Pfizer COVID vaccines
The federal government has confirmed the procurement of 500,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
The decision to acquire Pfizer vaccines from the US was based on recommendations from the Emergency Operation Centre’s (EOC) technical advisory group, specifically in response to the emerging threats posed by the JN.1 variant.
Pakistan is expected to receive approximately 200,000 vaccine doses in the country within the coming week, with the remaining doses scheduled for availability in subsequent phases.
“We are going to get 200,000 doses of Pfizer’s new COVID-19 vaccine (2023-24 formula) from the US in the next few days. This new formula is effective against the currently circulating variants including Omicron and its sub-variants. In addition, we would get 300,000 more doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine from COVAX, an international initiative to provide Covid vaccines to people around the world,” an official of the National Institute of Health told.
The distribution plan allocates 50% of the procured vaccinations to Punjab, aligning with the province’s requirements and population size, an official from the provincial health department involved in the procurement process revealed.