ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan’s National Task Force on Science andTechnology Chairperson Dr Atta-ur-Rehman on Monday said the coronavirusvaccine will be available in Pakistan in the next two months.

In a statement, Dr Rehman said Pakistan will have to try hard itself toprocure COVID-19 vaccine since the richer and bigger countries have alreadypaid for it.

Over the past weekend, Pakistan increased the funds allocated forpurchasing Covid-19 vaccine from $150 million to $250 million and signednon-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with different multinational companies.

In the first phase of vaccinations, frontline health workers attending topatients and people over 65 years will be vaccinated.

In the second phase, the remaining healthcare workers and people over 60years of age will get preference.

Furthermore, according to Parliamentary Secretary on National HealthServices (NHS) Dr Nausheen Hamid, the vaccine alliance GAVI has alsopledged to provide vaccines for the 20 per cent population.

By the end of 2021, it would be available to the masses.