Coronavirus: Govt mulls inoculating adolescents under 18

In line with Pakistan's aim to vaccinate 70% of the population  by the end of 2021, the federal government is considering inoculating adolescents under 18 years of age, sources informed Geo News on Saturday.

The National Institute of Health, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, and other institutions were deliberating over the matter, sources told the media outlet.

The institutions are expected to come up with a strategy in this regard by the end of this week, the sources said.

In the first phase, adolescents from 15-18 years will be inoculated, while in the second phase, teenagers from 12-15 years will get the jab.

Pakistan has received the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines through COVAX, which have been approved in several countries for inoculating children under 18 years of age.

To date, Pakistan has administered vaccines to more than 29 million people — six million completely vaccinated and nearly 23.3 million people partially vaccinated.