Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Special Advisor to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza has clarified that “there is no [coronavirus] vaccine in Pakistan currently and neither is there any work ongoing for its development.”
He said media reports that Pakistan is “on the verge of developing a vaccine for Covid-19” were incorrect.
“Let me clarify that while there are several initiatives to develop vaccines across the world, there is no such initiative in Pakistan at the moment.”
However, he said a Chinese company, which is in the process of developing a vaccine, contacted a few countries including Pakistan and offered them to become a part of clinical trials. “We have asked for more information from them,” Mirza added.
The government has launched a telemedicine portal where doctors, both local and abroad, can give advice to patients regarding the coronavirus, Dr Zafar Mirza announced.
The doctors can register for the Covid-19 Telehealth Portal at telehealth.gov.pk.
Noting that coronavirus deaths in the country have been “constantly” on the rise, SAPM on Health Zafar Mirza has urged Pakistanis to take even more precautions during Ramazan.
“Make your homes your places of worship,” he said. “And if you insist on going to mosques then at least follow the 20-point SOPs (standard operating procedures).”
Zafar Mirza says 79 per cent of all coronavirus cases in Pakistan have been locally transmitted while 21pc are imported infections. “It is now fair to say that our outbreak is now mostly of local transmission,” he told a news conference in Islamabad.
