The federal government has approved a tentative timeline for administeringCOVID-19 vaccines in three recurring phases, according to sources. Thevaccination drive is reportedly scheduled to commence in March 2021.

As per reports, the health ministry will initiate vaccination procedures inthree phases. In phase-1, 10 million people will be administered theCOVID-19 vaccine, including 0.5 million frontline essential health workersand 9.5 million people aged over 65. The second phase will oversee a massvaccination drive for all essential health workers and the population agedover 65.——————————

Phase-3 of the forthcoming COVID-19 vaccination drive will incorporate adefined portion of the remaining population. The continuation of thevaccination drive will be based on the available quantity after thecompletion of phase-3.

Earlier this week, a special cabinet committee headed by Federal Minister,Asad Umar, initiated relevant procurement protocols for the COVID-19vaccine. As per reports, the five-member special committee includes FawadChaudhry, Hammad Azhar, Sania Nishtar, and Dr. Faisal Sultan.

According to reports, the special committee will function as an oversightbody for the procurement of the vaccine. The special cabinet committee’sdecisions will be final and would not require any procedural approvals fromthe federal cabinet.