Pakistan on Monday halted Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations for children aged between 12 and 15 amid campaign to vaccinate more than 90 million children against the deadly measles and rubella viruses.
A senior Health Ministry official said “COVID-19 vaccine administration for children between 12-15 years will remain suspended for next 12 days during the national measles and rubella (MR) campaign.’’
According to him, more than 386, 000 health workers including 76,000 vaccine professionals and 143,000 social mobilisers would spread across the country during the campaign, hailed as one of the biggest in the world.
The campaign, the first of its kind will target children aged between 9 months and 15 years.
National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the body which oversees the country’s Coronavirus response took the decision after weeks of steady decline in new infections.
The NCOC has now lifted all restrictions and allowed a return to pre-pandemic life in the country.
There will be no bar on social gatherings and marriage halls, cinemas and shrines will be open, COVID-19 safety precautions like wearing a face mask will remain in place.
The ratio of Coronavirus tests returning positive results dropped below 1 per cent, compared to around 10 per cent in July.
There were 240 new cases and six related deaths during the last 24 hours. The country has so far recorded 1,279,876 cases and 28,612 related deaths.
More than 48 million people in the country of 220 million are fully vaccinated and over 119 million have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
Pakistan launches massive vaccination drive against measles, rubella
