Tag: vaccination

  • Asad Umar says unvaccinated people are seven times more likely to get Covid

    Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Friday said unvaccinated people were seven times more likely to contract the coronavirus than those inoculated.

    After the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) meeting, the minister said vaccination was the only way solution to the virus.

    Umar later took to Twitter and said, “The data analytics run by the NCOC team shows that comparative data of Pakistani’s who have been vaccinated versus those who are not vaccinated shows a marked difference in risk. The unvaccinated Pakistani’s are at 7 times higher risk of getting covid. Please get vaccinated.”

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan said every day around 2,500 new cases were being reported, warning that the Delta variant was spreading fast.

  • Pakistan’s Covid positivity rate crosses 5 per cent

    Pakistan’s Covid positivity rate crossed 5 per cent for the first time after nearly two months.

    The current infection rate stands at 5.2 per cent with a continuous spike in the cases.

    National Command and Operation Centre’s (NCOC) data from Thursday shows that 48,910 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours and 2,545 of them came back positive for coronavirus.

    With 47 new fatalities from the virus, the national death tally soared to 22,689.

    NCOC chief Asad Umar warned: “Indian variant has caused devastation in countries in the region.”

    Umar asked everyone to follow the directives necessary in relevance to Covid protocol and said, “Do not risk your own and others lives.”

  • NCOC responds to cricketer Junaid Khan’s tweets about Covid vaccine shortage

    NCOC responds to cricketer Junaid Khan’s tweets about Covid vaccine shortage

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), reacting to Pakistani cricketer Junaid Khan’s concerns about the non-availability of Covid-19 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), said that there is no shortage of vaccine in the province.

    In a couple of tweets, the KP-based pacer said that the government has made it mandatory for tourists to get vaccine before visiting northern areas, but the dosses “are not even available”.

    “Joke of the day! @Asad_Umar says Covid vaccine is a must for tourists in KPK and Gilgit Biltistan but first @ShahramKTarakai @AsadQaiserPTI and Asad Umar need to know that the vaccination they are making compulsory are not even available,” he wrote.

    Junaid said that the district administration of Mardan and Bunair had confirmed the situation.

    “No vaccine is available. Those that have taken their first dose more than 6/7 weeks ago are still waiting for their second dose. If they are not available where will people get vaccinated from?” he added.

    Responding to the cricketer, NCOC said more than one million doses are available across KP, backed by an efficient supply and management system.

    “In Buner, Swabi and Mardan, the minimum stock level of 30,000 doses each is being maintained, which is recouped from Provincial Stores based on the daily consumption rate,” the national Covid-19 monitoring body said.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan has paced up its inoculation drive. More than half a million doses were administered on Monday in the country.

  • Covid positivity rate nearing 4 per cent in Pakistan

    Covid positivity rate nearing 4 per cent in Pakistan

    Pakistan’s positivity rate is closing in on 4 per cent, with the current positivity rate at 3.79 per cent.

    Daily coronavirus caseload stayed over 1,500 for the fourth consecutive day after the country reported 1,828 new cases Saturday morning.

    The latest data issued by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday morning shows that 48,134 tests were conducted on July 9, out of which 1,828 people tested positive for coronavirus.

    Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar Friday said there are clear early signs of the fourth Covid-19 wave starting in Pakistan due to poor compliance of SOPs and the spread of the Delta variant.

    The NCOC chief said that he had warned two weeks back that the government’s artificial intelligence models are showing possible emergence of the fourth wave in July.

  • Eidul Azha: Govt issues guidelines for cattle market to curb Covid-19 spread

    Eidul Azha: Govt issues guidelines for cattle market to curb Covid-19 spread

    The Federal Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation, and Coordination on Tuesday issued guidelines for Eidul Azha in line with the government’s Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

    As per reports, the document has been issued to provide health guidelines to the general public, cattle vendors and customers to control the spread of COVID-19 by practicing social distancing and  following precautionary measures at the cattle market while buying or selling a sacrificial animal.

    Guidelines for sellers:

    • Animal vendors will have to follow the following guidelines while selling an animal at the cattle market.
    • It is necessary for all animal vendors and sellers to get vaccinated with any of the available COVID-19 vaccines in the country. Those without proof of vaccination (first dose or complete course) may not be allowed to do business in the market.
    • Every seller must wear a face mask covering nose and mouth all the time.
    • The seller should wash their hands with soap and water frequently or use an alcohol-based (70%) hand sanitiser.
    • Stalls should be set up at a distance of at least two metres from each other while ensuring enough space between animals. The supporting arrangements must be made by the local authority.
    • Seller and customers should try and maintain a safe distance of two metres. 
    • Seller and customer must not shake hands and avoid any other physical contact 
    • The seller must keep a disinfection formulation with 0.5% diluted bleach or 60%-80% dilute alcohol solution to disinfect the most frequently used surfaces by customers. 
    • Each salesperson must wear gloves for touching the animals. 
    • Any seller with symptoms of cough, sore throat, fever etc., would not be allowed to sell animals in the market. They will have to arrange a replacement for themselves.
    • Each seller must ensure queue control and maintaining the advised two metres distance in his allocated space in the market/ mandii. 
    • The sellers must keep themselves aware of the updated instructions issued by the government and should strictly follow them.

    Read More: Eid ul Azha: 5 things that can only happen in Pakistan

    Guidelines for Customers:

    • The buyer must wear a surgical/medical mask properly (cover nose and mouth) at all times.
    • The customers should not go to the market/ mandii if they are feeling any flu-like symptoms, cough, sore throat or fever.
    • Sanitise hands properly before and after going to the market.
    • Buyers should also wear gloves if they plan to touch the animals.
    • People visiting the market should avoid touching the surfaces in the market unnecessarily. 
    • Maintain two metres distance from the seller or other peoplepresent in the market.
    • Follow the safety guidance provided by the local management and cooperate with the staff
    • If a customer observes non-compliance to the guidelines by the individual seller, remind them and/or report to the local authorities.
  • How to get your Covid-19 vaccination certificate

    How to get your Covid-19 vaccination certificate

    As the coronavirus vaccination drive is speeding up in Pakistan, the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) has allowed restaurants to operate at 50 per cent indoor capacity for vaccinated individuals only.

    One of the most common questions on people’s minds these days is how do I get my vaccination certificate? Here is how you can get it:

    Step 1

    The first step is to visit the National Immunisation Management System (NIMS) website and enter the details of your computerised national identity card (CNIC). The certificate’s fee is Rs100 that can be paid through your debit or credit card.

    The certificate can also be downloaded if you have received only your first shot of the vaccination or you can visit a National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) centre to get your vaccination certificate.

    Step 2

    In the next step, enter the required details, i.e. your name and nationality.

    Step 3

     Enter your payment details.

    Step 4

    After paying the amount, you can download a receipt, check your information and then your certificate will be ready to download.

  • Study shows AstraZeneca, Pfizer vaccines effective against Delta Covid-19 variants

    Study shows AstraZeneca, Pfizer vaccines effective against Delta Covid-19 variants

    COVID-19 vaccines made by AstraZeneca and the Pfizer-BioNTech alliance remain broadly effective against Delta and Kappa variants of the COVID-19 which were first identified in India, according to a scientific study.

    According to the details, the study by Oxford University researchers, published in the journal Cell, examined the ability of antibodies in the blood from people, who were vaccinated with the two-shot regimens, to neutralize the highly contagious Delta and Kappa variants, a statement said.

    “There is no evidence of widespread escape suggesting that the current generation of vaccines will provide protection against the B.1.617 lineage,” the paper said, referring to the Delta and Kappa variants by a commonly used code.

    However, the concentration of neutralising antibodies in the blood was somewhat reduced, which may lead to some breakthrough infections, they warned.

    Last week, an analysis by the Public Health England (PHE) showed that vaccines made by Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) and AstraZeneca offer high protection of more than 90% against hospitalization from the Delta variant. 

    “We are encouraged to see the non-clinical results published from Oxford and these data, alongside the recent early real-world analysis from Public Health England, provide us with a positive indication that our vaccine can have significant impact against the Delta variant,” AstraZeneca executive Mene Pangalos said in a separate statement.

    The Delta variant is becoming the globally dominant version of the disease, the World Health Organization’s chief scientist said on Friday.

    The Oxford researchers also analysed reinfection patterns in people who had previously had COVID-19. The risk of reinfection with the Delta variant appeared particularly high in individuals previously infected by the Beta and Gamma lineages that emerged in South Africa and Brazil, respectively.

    By contrast, previous infection with the Alpha, or B117, variant first detected in Britain, conferred “reasonable” cross-protection against all variants of concern, lending itself as a template that next-generation vaccines could be molded on.

    “B117 might be a candidate for new variant vaccines to provide the broadest protection,” the researchers said.

  • Pakistan reports lowest Covid-19 positivity rate in 2021

    Pakistan reports lowest Covid-19 positivity rate in 2021

    Pakistan has reported the lowest Covid-19 positivity rate so far this year. During the last 24 hours, the positivity rate was recorded as 1.9 per cent.

    According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 54,647 tests were conducted during this period of which 1,043 samples came back positive.

    Earlier this week, for the first time since February 15, Pakistan reported less than 1,000 cases.

  • Pakistan reports less than 1,000 cases for the first time since February 2021

     For the first time since February 15, Pakistan has reported less than 1,000 cases in the last 24 hours, data released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) showed. 

    In the last 24 hours, a total of 35,039 tests were conducted across the country out of which 838 people tested positive for the virus, thus putting the coronavirus positivity ratio at 2.39 per cent. 

    Meanwhile, 59 people succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, the NCOC stated, adding that a total of 2,611 coronavirus patients from across the country are in critical condition.

  • Saudi Arabia to ban unvaccinated individuals from entering malls

    People who have not been vaccinated will not be allowed to enter malls in Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Commerce Spokesman Abdulrahman Al-Hussein said on Sunday. The decision will come into effect from August 1, ARY News has reported.

    Hussein added that the dressing rooms have reopened and touchscreens are now allowed to be used in shops, malls and commercial centres while ensuring continuous disinfection and social distancing.

    Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday it will allow 60,000 vaccinated residents of the kingdom to perform the annual Hajj.

    The Saudi Hajj Ministry said this year’s pilgrimage would be “open for nationals and residents of the kingdom, limited to 60,000 pilgrims,” according to the official Saudi Press Agency.