Govt allocates funds for COVID-19 vaccine: Dr Faisal Sultan

While talking in 92 News program 'Subh Savaray Pakistan', Dr Faisal Sultan said that the government hopes to procure Covid-19 vaccine in the first quarter of 2021, adding that the supply of vaccine will start in the first quarter of 2021.

"It's a moving target," the premier's aide said of the expected procurement timeline. "I think its first stage will be possible in the first quarter of 2021," the special assistant maintained. 

Earlier a day, during a press conference, Dr Faisal said that the federal cabinet had approved the Economic Coordination Committee's (ECC) recommendation to allocate $150 million to acquire a vaccine for the novel coronavirus.

The SAPM said that the government will consider multiple factors before procuring a vaccine, which include: the type of vaccine, its efficacy, its safety and side effects, storage requirements, cost, production capacity of the manufacturer and whether Pakistan has access to procure that vaccine. He added that several companies that are working on the development of a vaccine have been shortlisted and initial negotiations have started.

"The price of the 100-milligram injection of remdesivir, a drug used to treat Covid-19 patients in specific conditions, has been slashed from Rs9,244 to Rs5,660 in view of prevailing international prices," the special assistant mentioned.