UNICEF- Who rescues Pakistan
Dr. Jassim Taqui
DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies
Islamabad, August 27, 2021: Today
three million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine donated by the Government of the
United States were delivered by the COVAX Facility to Pakistan. This is the first tranche of 10,358,010 US-donated doses which are being supplied
through the global COVID-19 equity scheme’s dose-sharing mechanism.
Over the past four
months, COVAX has delivered more than 17 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine
to Pakistan. This includes 3 million doses of Pfizer and 5.5 million doses
of Moderna donated by the United States under COVAX’s dose-sharing mechanism;
6.1 million doses of Sinopharm, 2.4 million doses of AstraZeneca, and 100,160
doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine procured by COVAX. More doses are
expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
All doses
support the Government of Pakistan’s national vaccination campaign. The National Command and Operation Center
has just announced that children above the age of 17 would be eligible for
vaccination from September 1st, as well as anyone above 12 who is immunocompromised.
“COVID -19
vaccines are effective and safe. The arrival of the additional COVAX vaccine
comes at a crucial time when Pakistan is facing a surge in COVID-19
infections with approximately reporting 4,000 cases per day. WHO
appreciates the Government of the United States for their continued and
generous support to Pakistan, said Dr. Palitha Mahipala, WHO
Representative in Pakistan. “WHO is committed to ensuring equitable
vaccine allocation leaving no one behind and fully supports the Government of
Pakistan’s efforts to increase availability and safe administration of vaccines
to cover 70 million people by end of this year. WHO urges people to maintain
COVID protective measures while the national vaccination campaign continues to
be rolled out and expanded.”
In the past seven
months, 14 million people have been fully vaccinated, and 38 million have
received the first dose of vaccine against the coronavirus COVID-19 in
Pakistan. The Government-led campaign relies on vaccines procured via COVAX and
through bilateral agreements.
More than one
million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the country so far and more
than 25,000 people have succumbed to the virus.
“UNICEF thanks the
Government of United States for its generous donation of vaccines to Pakistan
through the COVAX facility. We look forward to more vaccines becoming available
in the country as other COVAX partners share their doses of vaccines and help
secure full funding for the global initiative and more vaccines. Worldwide solidarity is the only way to ensure
equitable vaccine access for every person on Earth, so they can have access to
the same protection against COVID-19, no matter where they live,” said
Aida Girma, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan. “UNICEF commends the Government
of Pakistan for its efficient roll-out of the vaccination campaign, which will
now include children above the age of 17 and children above 12 who are immunocompromised, as announced
by the National Command and Operation Center. We must also ensure
that women get vaccinated, including pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, for
whom COVID-19 vaccines are safe. UNICEF will continue to offer technical,
logistical, and communication support to the NCOC’s plan to vaccinate at least
70 million people by the end of this year.”
Strictly complying
with COVID-19 safety measures remains crucial to curb the spread of
the virus. These include regularly washing hands with soap for at
least 20 seconds or use a sanitizer; wear a mask; remain at least six feet away
from other people; avoid crowded places, and stay home when having COVID-19
symptoms.
“The
COVAX Facility and Gavi are proud to support this delivery of COVID vaccines
and commend the Government of Pakistan for their continuing efforts to ensure
that vulnerable populations in Pakistan are protected from COVID-19,” said Alexa Reynolds, Gavi Senior Country
Manager for Pakistan.
The COVAX Facility aims to help address the acute
phase of the global pandemic by the end of 2021 by
providing rapid, fair, and equitable
access to approved vaccines to all participating countries,
regardless of income level. It enables the protection of frontline health
care and social workers, as well as other high-risk and vulnerable groups.
COVAX
(COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access) is co-led
by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and
WHO, together with UNICEF. It is funded thanks to generous support
from partner governments, foundations, and private-sector corporations. So far
it has delivered more than 90 million doses of different COVID-19 vaccines to
133 countries and territories around the world.