Pakistan vaccinates 100,000 people in 24 hours, looks for alternative sources of oxygen

Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday reported vaccination of 100,000 people in 24 hours as the third wave of COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc in the country recording the highest number of single-day fatalities since the outbreak of the virus last year.

According to Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiative and head of the National Command & Operation Centre (NCOC) Asad Umar the daily vaccinations crossed 100,000 in a day (Tuesday) for the first time.

Pakistan’s total number of vaccinations by Wednesday was 2.1 million, the minister said in a tweet adding it was good to see more people were registering.

The minister also urged people aged 40 and above to register themselves for vaccination.

Punjab imposes ‘oxygen emergency’

The Punjab government has imposed emergency in the province directing all the oxygen manufacturing units/plants to stop oxygen supply to steel, glass and ship breaking industry and divert it to health units.

Already in the province 25-30 per cent more oxygen is being supplied to the hospitals but after Wednesday’s orders the supply of oxygen has been raised by 100 per cent.

According to the Punjab health department oxygen supply to the pharmaceutical companies will continue uninterrupted while its supply to private commercial units has been stopped till further order.

Pakistan prepares indigenous ICU-ventilator

The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) has developed the country’s “first indigenous intensive care unit (ICU) ventilator” known as ‘i-Live.’

The PAEC announced this in a statement commending the work of its scientists and engineers for developing Pakistan’s first indigenously-developed ventilator.

i-Live has been prepared keeping in view all essential quality standards and regulatory requirements, and the doctors at the PAEC hospital in Islamabad also provided input during the development process, the statement further said.

Over 1 million vaccinated in Punjab

According to Health Minister of Punjab, Dr Yasmin Rashid, over 1 million people have been vaccinated in Punjab alone, with 30,000 people vaccinated in the last 24 hours.

Besides, 198,000 healthcare workers have received the first dose of the vaccine while more than 138,000 healthcare workers have received the second dose.

So far more than 495,000 elderly citizens have received the first dose and over 1640,000 people have received the second dose, according to the minister.

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