According to a statement released Thursday by the Ministry of National Health Services Regulation, Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved unique funding for the advance purchasing of the Covid-19 vaccine.
The Ministry of Health reported that at the earliest, the prime minister had shown particular interest in ensuring quality vaccines and approved specific funding in this regard. In response to global best practices, the ministry said the government has developed a Covid-19 vaccine strategy.
Under this policy, the government has prioritized the groups most likely to be the initial beneficiaries of a possible vaccine, according to a statement released by the ministry. It reported that the Covid-19 vaccine expert committee has been working on technical oversight and analysis of safety and efficacy data from trials.
Earlier, Dr. Faisal Sultan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Health, stated that the PM had approved funds to buy potential Covid-19 vaccines in advance. The funds were authorized after a letter was written to PM Imran Khan by the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination requesting permission for advance booking of coronavirus vaccines.
It was learned earlier on November 4 that the Ministry of Health suggested buying possible coronavirus vaccines in final-stage trials and allocating $100 million in funds for its advance booking.
The ministry has proposed allocating $100 million in emergency-based vaccine procurement funds to about 10 million people. The vaccines will be made available to elderly residents and health workers in their first step.
