Pakistan has become one of the first few countries outside the developed world to produce homemade COVID-19 vaccine “PakVac”, a week after Islamabad announced it had successfully accomplished the process of making the preventive medicine with the help of China’s CanSino Bio.
At the same time, the United States has been boosting the South Asian nation’s fight against the pandemic with some much-needed supplies as the country of over 200 million combats the pandemic through a hybrid approach.
Over the weekend, the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, airlifted of critical health supplies that would help save lives, stop the spread of COVID-19, and meet the urgent health needs.
The airlift to Pakistan contributes critically needed and requested emergency medical supplies, including personal protective equipment, pulse oximeters, and other supplies, the USAID said. The Department will complement these supplies with technical assistance on their use and maintenance.
“Today, the United States continues our proud partnership with the Government of Pakistan in our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Embassy Chargé d’affaires Lesslie Viguerie. “Throughout this struggle, we have worked together to provide resources and relief to those suffering and to help those on the frontlines of this pandemic. Pakistan is not alone in its fight against the coronavirus.”
Since the start of the outbreak in early 2020, USAID has been working to save lives and contain the pandemic in more than 120 countries, including Pakistan. USAID’s ongoing assistance provides emergency relief, strengthens health systems, supports vaccine readiness and distribution, improves public health education, and protects health care workers and facilities.
China has been aiding the neighboring country in a number of ways including help with developing its brand of vaccine locally.
“There is always an opportunity to overcome even the most difficult challenges. We found our friend China closest to us in overcoming the Covid-19 challenge,” Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan said.
Medical researchers acknowledge that developing a vaccine through raw materials is not an easy task, and that maintaining the required standards is a tough ask.
Pakistani leaders have praised the National Institute of Health Sciences and the National Command and Operations Centre for rising to the occasion in the hard times.
“Only nations that focus on increasing their knowledge and have the capacity to translate that knowledge equation into technology progress,” Asad Umar, an NCOC leader said.
Pakistani officials say the budget for higher education had been doubled in just last two years, whereas the budget for health has been tripled.
Currently, Pakistan is allowing administration of Chinese vaccines- Sinopharm, SinoVac, CanSino, British vaccine, AstraZenica, Russian vaccine, Sputnik and American Pfizer.
The United Nations, under its COVAX program, donated 100,000 doses of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine doses.
The U.S. government has allocated more than $40 million to Pakistan for COVID-19 response assistance, including a donation of 200 ventilators to care for COVID-19 patients. This support has benefited more than 2.5 million Pakistanis across the country, providing life-saving treatments, strengthening case-finding and surveillance, and mobilizing innovative financing to bolster emergency preparedness.
