Minister of Health for Punjab Dr Yasmin Rashid has said that the vaccination process for the general public against COVID-19 will start soon.

The minister announced this at a session of the Punjab Provincial Assembly on Tuesday. She said that the government has ordered 17 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine, and the vaccination process for the public will begin once they arrive.

The vaccination campaign for frontline healthcare workers was launched across the country by Prime Minister Imran Khan on February 3.

On February 20, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan announced that all healthcare workers in Pakistan, and not just frontline workers, could register to get themselves vaccinated against COVID-19.

These healthcare workers include nurses, dentists, doctors, pharmacists, allied health professionals such as physical therapists and lab technologists, as well as those who work in clinical settings and have direct contact with patients, including security personnel, receptionists, porters, cashiers, cleaning staff, and ambulance drivers.

Healthcare workers under the age of 60 can register for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines through the governmental portal at covid.gov.pk/vaccine. Healthcare workers under 60 in Pakistan are currently being administered the Chinese Sinopharm vaccines.

Meanwhile, those aged above 60 have been advised to register for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine by sending their CNIC (without space or dash) by SMS to 1166, or visiting nims.nadra.gov.pk.

The shipment of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines is likely to reach Pakistan in early March.

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