KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) – Thousands of Pakistanis rushed to get vaccinated in the first round of commercial sales of COVID-19 vaccines, which began at the weekend, with vaccination sites in the city of Karachi saying on Sunday they had run out .
Pakistan is offering free vaccines to frontline health professionals and people over 50, but the movement so far has been slow, and last month the country has allowed commercial imports from the private sector to the general public.
The first round saw the commercial sale of two-dose Russian Sputnik V to the general public for about 12,000 Pakistani rupees ($ 80) for a two-dose package.
Despite the cost, several centers offering the injection have reported long lines, with some in Karachi waiting in line for almost three hours. The majority in the queue were young Pakistani people who were not yet qualified for the government’s free vaccination.
“I am very happy to welcome you, as it is now necessary to travel,” Saad Ahmed, 34, told Reuters on Sunday, after receiving a chance at a luxury private hospital in Karachi.
Although the private sale of vaccines has started, the government and importers are still in a price dispute.
Pakistan initially agreed to exempt imported vaccines from price caps, but later rescinded the exemption and said it would set maximum prices.
A pharmaceutical company, which had already imported 50,000 doses of Sputnik V, took the government to court, where it obtained a provisional order allowing the sale until the price is decided.
As soon as the vaccination was opened to mobile customers, there were long lines of people, said Dr. Nashwa Ahmed, who administers the vaccination at South City Hospital in Karachi, told Reuters.
Photos of queues outside the hospital late at night were shared on social media.
The hospital purchased 5,000 doses of Sputnik V and in just over two days the entire stock was administered or pre-booked, said a hospital official who asked not to be identified.
The companies, including one of Pakistan’s largest banks, also bought large quantities to inoculate employees, the official said.
Private sales begin as the country grapples with a new wave of COVID-19 infections and healthcare facilities are rapidly filling up their capacity.
The number of patients now in intensive care has reached 3,568, the highest since the pandemic began, a cabinet minister, Asad Umar, said on Twitter. Pakistan has so far reported 687,908 infections and 14,778 deaths.
($ 1 = 152,9400 Pakistani rupees)
Syed Raza Hassan reporting; Peter Graff’s Edition