Oxford - Astra Zeneca’s COVID'19 vaccine in Pakistan

Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) approved the Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine, so the government is likely to bear $6 to $7 per dose of million of shots if opted, though its sole authorised local distributor is at the moment unable to give a proper timeline for the supply,since it emerged on Wednesday. 

One of the biggest importers of Vaccines and other pharmaceutical products in Pakistan, Usman Ghani of Sindh Medical Stores stated “Since the government has allowed it and given us the nod to import the consignments, we have estimated that it would be available to the government for something between US$6 and US$7.” 

The Bid Has formally been made to both governments (Federal and Provincial), but it is a difficult question to answer when it would be made available. 

Moreover, AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine has been confirmed by The federal government.  The Sindh Medical Stores representative said the registration had been done by Drap but his company could not get documentary approval from the authority (Drap) till date and even vaccine price could not be fixed.

Meanwhile, 1,772 more cases of novel coronavirus were reported in a single day that also recorded the death of as many as 48 patients.

Furthermore, Dr Faisal Sultan, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health in a press briefing on Wednesday, told the media that Pakistan was in consultation with China and British High Commission to get Covid-19 vaccine. He was confident that one million doses of vaccine would be in stores by March 31.