US donations of COVID-19 vaccines to Pakistan surpass 50 million mark

In this file photo, volunteers unload the first batch of 10 million doses of US-donated Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Islamabad, Pakistan, on August 26, 2021. (Photo courtesy: UNICEF)

• US delivered another 4.7 million Pfizer vaccine doses to Pakistan late last week
• Pakistan has reported over 1.4 million cases of coronavirus since the pandemic began

ISLAMABAD: The US donated another 4.7 million doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine to Pakistan last week, taking the total number of vaccine doses it has provided to Pakistan to over 52 million, the US embassy in Islamabad has said.
The South Asian nation is currently battling an omicron-driven fifth wave of coronavirus infections. Pakistan reported 3,914 coronavirus cases and 47 deaths on Thursday.  
“With the shipment of an additional 4.7 million Pfizer vaccine doses this week, U.S.-donated vaccines to Pakistan have now reached over 52 million,” US Embassy Islamabad’s Chargé d’affaires Angela P. Aggeler said this week, adding that the US was working with Pakistan to improve infection prevention and control and enhance patient care.
“This shows our important partnership with Pakistan to improve this country’s national health infrastructure,” she said. “I especially congratulate the Government of Pakistan for administering a record-breaking 2 million vaccines in one day and 187.9 million vaccines overall,” she added.  
Pakistan has to date reported over 1.4 million cases of the coronavirus, with 29,600 casualties. Almost 89 million of Pakistan's 220 million residents are fully vaccinated while over 113 million have received a first dose dose.