Vaccine for citizens aged 30−39 to start from Sunday

ISLAMABAD: Chairman of Pakistan’s National Command and Operation Centre ( NCOC) and Federal Minister Asad Umar said on Wednesday that the registration of coronavirus vaccination for citizens aged 30 to 39 will be open from Sunday ( May 16).

This is the first time that the age limit has been reduced to thirty years.

Umar said in a tweet that as vaccine supply continues to improve and vaccination capacity gets enhanced in all provinces, the government continues to expand the categories of those who are eligible to get vaccinated.

“As vaccine supply continues to improve and vaccination capacity gets enhanced in all federating units, we continue to expand the categories of those who are eligible to get vaccinated,” Umar said on Twiter.

“Starting Sunday, the 16th of May, registration will be open to all 30 years and older citizens,” the official added.

Pakistan also commenced the process of walk-in vaccination for the citizens aged 40 to 49 on Wednesday.

The registered citizens will be able to walk into any COVID-19 vaccination centre of their choice and get vaccinated, the Xinhua news agency reported.

In order to stop the spread of the virus during Eid Al Fitr holidays, Pakistan has barred almost all businesses, hotels, parks, recreational spots and shopping malls, inter-provincial and intercity public transport from operating from May 8 to 16, covering the Eid holidays from May 10 to 15 in the country.

In a separate development, Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has allowed airlines to operate 30 per cent more outbound international flights from the country amid curbs on flight operations in the wake of COVID-19 situation.

A notification issued by the air transport department of the CAA gave permission to the airlines so that they could take passengers in their outbound flights, that were previously going vacant owing to COVID curbs.

The increased international flight operation would also include cargo flights of the airlines. “We have taken the decision in the wake of a crowd and fewer number of available flights,” the CAA said while commenting on the decision.

On May 2, the CAA issued details regarding the number of reduced international flights in the country in the wake of a rise in COVID-19 cases.

According to details shared by the CAA, Qatar Airways was previously allowed to operate 56 flights in a week, which is now minimised to 11, followed by eight flights allowed to Gulf Air as compared to 35 flights previously in a week.