PM orders to ensure Covid jabs for children aged 5-12

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday chaired a meeting to deliberate on the Covid-19 situation in the country, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

During meeting, the premier expressed his satisfaction that by the grace of God, Covid situation was under control. However, he ordered to ensure vaccination of children aged between 5-2 on war-footing. 

He also instructed to make coronavirus screening of the inbound passengers at airports more effective. He ordered to hire a third party which will prepare a report regarding the screening system installed at country’s airports and border areas. 

PM Shehbaz said that it was a good sign that no death was reported due to Covid infection during last 15 weeks. However, he cautioned, despite low infectivity rate, we should brace ourselves to deal with any crisis situation. 

He thanked all those countries who provided Covid-19 vaccines to Pakistan on behalf of entire nation. 

He also commended the efforts of the NCOC and its officials for containing this virus. 

On Monday, the National Disaster Management Authority called upon the National Institute of Health (NIH) to issue fresh precautionary advisories for educational institutes, social gatherings and conduct weekly media briefings in the wake of threat posed by the new BF.7 Omicron variant of Covid-19.

It was decided during a review session, which was presided over by NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik, and attended by a team of NIH and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The session reviewed the Covid-19 situation and surveillance mechanisms at airports.

NIH officials told the forum that vaccination and screening test of pedestrians were being executed at Torkham border on a daily basis.

However, the NDMA chairman called for continuous monitoring of global spread and behaviour of sub-variant, and measures undertaken by other countries accordingly to counter the strain.