National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has decided to administered Pfizer anti-coronavirus vaccine to citizens who are below 18 years of age. In a major development, NCOC has revised its Covid pandemic vaccination guidelines for citizens below the age of 18.
As per the report, the government is considering to vaccinate adolescents under 18 years of age, as it aims to inoculate 70% of the population by year’s end. For this purpose the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination said the National Institute of Health, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, and other institutions were deliberating over the matter.
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“The general public age group for vaccination has been lowered to 17 years,” the NCOC said, further adding that the Pfizer vaccine will be administered to those citizens who are below 18 years of age.
According to NCOC for the registration in the National Immunization Management System, people below the age of 18 will have to provide their B-form number. The statement further added that immune-compromised individuals between 12 to 17 years of age will also be inoculated with the Pfizer vaccine.
Sources said that the institutions are expected to design a strategy in this regard by the end of this week.
Moreover, the first phase of the vaccination includes adolescents from 15-18 years, while in the second phase, teenagers from 12-15 years will get the inoculation.
Pakistan has acquired the coronavirus vaccines named Pfizer and Moderna through COVAX, which have been ratified in several countries for immunizing children under 18 years of age.
In the meantime, the government has decided to start paid vaccination for those who want to get the vaccine of their choice.
The federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan have taken these decisions in a press conference.
