The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) issued notifications according to which citizens over the age of 30 will be eligible to get booster shots for Covid-19 vaccines starting January 1, 2022. A flexible mix-and-match strategy will be adopted, allowing for more individuals to get boosters—improving overall immunity in the country. Such protective measures are vital to take right now when we are relatively untouched by the new variant and it is good to see the government be proactive.
The authorities have successfully and completely inoculated 58 percent of the total population of Pakistan. However, vaccine hesitancy still remains a problem that must be dealt with. Offering booster shots of choice—meaning people can now choose their preferred vaccine—will surely improve confidence levels in the vaccines in the long term. Plus, studies have shown that mixing the vaccines can actually have a more positive impact as it offers greater protection against Covid-19. Lastly, this mix-and-match strategy will also help those who seek to go abroad but could not get the specific dose required by embassies earlier.
All in all, it is reassuring to see that the government is taking the right steps well before the country has been plagued with a ferocious wave of the Omicron variant—proven to be more deadly, resistant and contagious. This way, we are strengthening our immunity before the evolving virus has a chance to attack us. Furthermore, the flexibility shown by the government is bound to encourage the remaining population to head to vaccination centres to get their shot as the process will be dictated by them and whichever dose they feel more comfortable with.
All of Europe is being ravaged by effects of a rapidly evolving virus; this is a situation that must be prevented from developing within our borders so while we focus on giving booster shots, we must also look to increase the number of people who are yet to get their first or second doses.