While an estimated cost of the Covid-19 vaccine is not yet available, Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved $100 million to be allocated for procurement of the vaccine.
It has also been decided that different segments of society, such as senior citizens, health practitioners and people suffering from chronic diseases, will be prioritised for the administration of vaccine.
“As we speak no company has announced the cost of the vaccine. Moreover, not a single company has got the approval to sell the vaccine as the clinical trial data is limited. Although international firms — Pfizer and BioNTech — have announced that the phase-III clinical trials of their vaccines had shown 90% efficacy in preventing the disease among those who have not contracted the virus, they are in the process of compiling the data. Once data will be completed they will submit it to the United States Food and Drugs Authority and with the similar regulatory authority of the European Union. It may take another four weeks,” said the Vice-Chancellor of the Health Services Academy (HSA) and Chairman of the National Vaccine Committee Dr. Asad Hafeez while talking to Dawn.
“Companies will get the emergency use or transit permission for use of vaccine and after one year they may get full approval to sell the vaccine. However, there will be no difference for the general public if the vaccine is sold under transit or full permission. The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) has been interacting and negotiating with half a dozen multinational companies to get the vaccine at the earliest,” he said.
