Chinese Vaccines are effective and most trusted in Pakistan, Survey
By. Fatima Javed
According to a local survey, the Chinese vaccines including Sinopharm, CanSino and Sinovac have proved effective and most trusted in Pakistan. A large percentage of the people who have been vaccinated considered the Chinese vaccines as better than the others.
Experts believe that it is due to the fact that the Chinese vaccines have been tested and produced while taking into consideration Asian genes and circumstances.
Pakistan has so far approved five Covid-19 vaccines in the country which include Sinopharm, Cansino, Sinovac, Sputnik and AstraZeneca. The initial vaccines are reported to be protective against severe illness, a factor that will avert high numbers of death and pressure on health systems.
The basic details of Covid-19 vaccines from China which were approved and are in use in Pakistan are Vero Cell by Sinopharm, contains inactivated virus and 2 doses given (3 weeks apart). The efficiency proved to be 79.1% while 86% in UAE trials.
Second is CoronaVac by Sinovac also contains inactivated virus and 2 doses given (3-4 weeks apart). Its efficiency proves to be 50% to 78% while 83.5% as per trials in Turkey.
The third is Convidecia by CanSino, contains Adenovirus Type 5 Vector, 1 dose given, (trials on booster shot in progress). Its efficiency is 65% while 74.8% as per trials in Pakistan.
The first batch of Sinopharm vaccine was sent by China free of cost to Pakistan in February this year which was administered to frontline healthcare workers and doctors.
Later, the improved vaccination capacity and regular supply from China enabled the government to administer it to people of different age groups. Now almost all the age groups of people from 19 and above are in the process of getting the vaccination.
The body, which leads Pakistan's fight against Covid-19, said that "In June, Pakistan will receive a total of 11 million doses of Sinopharm, CanSino, and Sinovac vaccines,”.
Due to the timely administration of vaccines in Pakistan among different age groups, the Covid-19 positivity ratio has dropped. Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said in a tweet, “Due to effective policies and timely interventions, the Covid-19 positivity ratio in Pakistan has dropped to 3.1 per cent, the lowest since the current wave of the pandemic started,”
The data released by National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Sunday, showed that Pakistan carried out 52,427 tests in the last 24 hours, of which 1,629 returned positive.
As the coronavirus cases have started declining, NCOC greenlighted the reopening of all educational institutes in districts with low coronavirus positivity ratio from today (Monday).
Public and private educational institutions in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and in Punjab province therefore resumed physical classes in a staggering manner from today following strict SOPs.
With around 420,000 people having been completely or partially vaccinated in the federal capital, health authorities are aiming to administer 25,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine daily.
