Observer Report
Expressing concern over the continued surge in Covid-19 cases and slow pace of the vaccination process, health experts have called upon the provincial government to immediately take steps for setting up more vaccination facilities by effectively engaging the private sector.
It’s also important, they said, that the federal government simplify the vaccination process by removing the age limit and registration system, requiring only production of a person’s national identity card for getting the jab.
“It’s a crucial time; coronavirus cases are rising amidst limited facilities for vaccination in the country, particularly in Sindh.
The only way we can slow down the epidemic is by vaccinating 70 to 80 per cent of our population in four to six months.
Else, the vaccination drive will lose its utility,” said Dr Rafiq Khanani, the president of the Infection Control Society of Pakistan.
He was of the opinion that the government alone couldn’t tackle the epidemic and must involve the private sector.
“The provincial government needs to engage and facilitate the private sector including philanthropic organisations interested in importing the Covid-19 vaccine and providing it at a highly subsidised cost or free of cost to people.”
Citing examples of other countries, Dr Khanani said Covid vaccines had proven to be very safe and vaccination was being carried out in mobile container clinics in parks, factories and clinics of general practitioners in countries like India, the UK and the US.
