Pakistan gets 1M doses of Russian Sputnik V vaccine

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – The first consignment of one million doses of Russian-made Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine arrived in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on Wednesday, the country’s Health Ministry said.

Sputnik V is among the seven vaccines approved by the Pakistani government for emergency use.

Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar, who also heads the country's anti-virus strategy, tweeted that over 1.5 million doses of coronavirus vaccines, the highest-ever daily shots, were administered in the last 24 hours across the country.

Pakistan's 35% of the adult population has received the first shot, he said.

The South Asian nuclear country has so far inoculated nearly 57 million people out of a total 208 million population.

Pakistan is currently reeling from a deadly fourth wave of the pandemic, logging 3,559 fresh cases and 101 deaths over the past 24 hours, the ministry said.

The country's overall caseload and death toll stand at 1.16 million and 25,889, respectively.

Pakistan has been recording daily cases between 3,000 and 4,000 for the past several weeks, putting pressure on the already over-burdened hospitals, especially in the big cities.

Islamabad has imposed a new set of restrictions, which includes the closure of amusement parks, shrines, gyms, and cinemas, and a ban on indoor ceremonies and dining at restaurants.

All commercial activities – except for essential services – end at 8 p.m., whereas they are closed for two days a week.

Educational institutions across the country remain open for three days a week with 50% attendance.