The United States is scheduled to begin its coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination campaign starting Monday with doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine scheduled to reach all hospitals and other sites. The United States, which tops the list of countries most affected by the pandemic, has so far registered more than 16.7 million cases and 306,459 deaths, according to figures from worldometers.info.
India, on the other hand, has issued operational guidelines for all states and territories of the Union (UT) regarding the distribution of vaccines. While Pakistan, which is experiencing an increase in coronavirus reinfections at various health facilities, has increased its funds allocated to purchase vaccines from $ 150 million to $ 250 million.
Here are the latest updates on the development of the Covid-19 vaccine:
1. The United States will begin its vaccination program starting today. Senior government officials, including those who work closely with President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and other top leaders, will receive doses of the Pfizer vaccine as soon as possible. This comes after a senior official told AFP news agency that the pharmaceutical firm’s vaccine would reach hospitals and other sites across the United States.
2. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the first of many freezer-packed vials of vaccine has arrived in the country. But he urged all Canadians to keep wearing masks, avoid meetings and download a government app that lets users know if they have been in contact with an infected person. The government had recently amended its contract with the US pharmaceutical company Pfizer so that it could administer up to 249,000 doses of vaccines this month.
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3. In India, the Union health ministry has sent a set of operational guidelines to the states and territories of the union (UT) regarding the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine once it is available. Some of the guidelines include administering vaccine doses as a priority to healthcare workers, front-line workers and those over 50, using a digitized platform to track beneficiaries enlisted for vaccination and vaccinate 100 of those people per session.
Four. Mumbai civic body BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to develop a Covid-19 real-time monitoring mobile app to regulate the vaccination process for the city’s population of 20 million. Suresh Kakani, the civic body’s additional commissioner, who also heads its task force, said the app will have all the up-to-date data that will be connected to BMC systems. Users will have to link their Aadhaar number and mobile phone number and will also be sent alert messages about the upcoming vaccine, he added.
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5. Meanwhile, the government of Pakistan led by Imran Khan has increased the funds allocated to purchase the Covid-19 vaccine from $ 150 million to $ 250 million. Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services (NHS) Nausheen Hamid told the PTI news agency that delivery of the vaccine would begin at the end of the first quarter of 2021 and that first priority would be given to front-line health workers who care for Covid-19 patients and people over 65. old.
6. Bahrain approved China’s Sinopharm vaccine on Sunday as it participated in phase III clinical trials, which enrolled more than 7,700 volunteers. Bahrain had previously authorized the emergency use of the vaccine, which was provided to front-line workers who were in contact with infected patients.
(With contributions from the agency)
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