Pakistan approves $ 150 million grant to purchase COVID-19 vaccine

Islamabad: The Pakistani government has allocated $ 150 million in initial funds for the purchase of the COVID-19 vaccine to ensure timely access and availability.

The Cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approved a $ 150 million grant to secure doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister’s Finance and Revenue Advisor Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh.

The approval came after Prime Minister Imran Khan authorized the coronavirus vaccine to be pre-booked, after which health officials approached two vaccine manufacturers.

According to health officials, up to 10 million people will be vaccinated in the first phase, about 5% of the Pakistani population. Pakistan’s frontline health workers and people over the age of 65 are likely to get the vaccine first.

The Pakistani Ministry of Health is currently in talks with two different pharmaceutical companies that are expected to launch the coronavirus vaccine by mid-2021. Pakistan “is in the process of pre-booking the vaccine from several companies” after the government has allocated $ 150 million in funding, Dr Malik Lo confirmed Mohammad Safi, director general for health of the Ministry of National Health Services.

Pakistan is also in close contact with the COVAX alliance and GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccine Immunization) to negotiate a significant amount of vaccines and expects to receive between 20 million and 45 million coronavirus vaccines from GAVI by third quarter of next year.

The Ministry of Health has been tasked with formulating a proposal regarding the pricing and risk mitigation mechanism for the procurement of the COVID-19 vaccine. The Pakistani government aims to provide coronavirus vaccines free of charge to the most vulnerable citizens and those who cannot afford it.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is conducting its own clinical trials in the final phase of two Chinese vaccines. One of the 3 investigational vaccines in Pakistan is CanSinoBio, developed by a Chinese biotech company. The trial is expected to last at least another three months and will require a final evaluation by China, following which millions of doses of the vaccine will be sent to Pakistan as a priority.

Unlike the Pfizer vaccine which has its own sub-zero storage requirements, Chinese single-dose vaccines can be transported at “normal temperatures,” making it a “suitable choice for Pakistan,” health experts believe.