Covid-19 Vaccination: One million more doses flown in and an additional two million doses expected on April 29 from China
China is providing one million more doses of Covid-19 to Pakistan. PIA country manager says an additional two million doses expected on April 29, 2021
BEIJING:
According to PIA Country Manager for China Qadir Bux Sangi, an additional two million doses of Covid-19 vaccine will also be transported in Pakistan from China through two special planes and a PIA regular flight on April 29. Three planes of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) carrying one million doses of Covid-19 vaccine left China for Pakistan on Sunday amidst a sharp rise in new coronavirus cases in the country. The shipment flies in as Pakistan’s tally for confirmed cases reaches 795,627 and the death toll stands at 17,117.
Previously, a total of 2.56 million vaccine doses had arrived in Pakistan from China and 1.5 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine were donated to Pakistan. The vaccination of people in the age group 50 to 59 also began on April 21. The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) established registering citizens above 50 years of age for Covid-19 vaccination from March 30.
Pakistan began its vaccination more than a month ago with over a million doses of Sinopharm vaccines donated by China after Islamabad received its first Covid-19 vaccine consignment after a military aircraft airlifted it from Beijing in February 1, this year.
According to a senior Chinese official, the vaccine collaboration between Pakistan and China reflects the joint support understanding between the two as all-weather strategic cooperative partners.