Hardly half a million, or a lower number of people have managed to receive the Covid-19 vaccine jabs in Pakistan where a third wave has started wreaking havoc with the lives in the capital Islamabad, and several cities in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Experts believe that is a matter of time before major cities in Sindh and Balochistan register an exponential growth in the Covid-19 cases.

The nationwide positivity rate climbed to 10.15 percent on Thursday with 63 deaths, mostly reported from the Punjab, Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Sindh appeared to be relatively calmer at the moment with no reported deaths over the last few days and the number of new Covid-19 cases remained just under 200 for most of March. However, experts believe that it is “just a matter of time” and that the so-called new variant or B.1.1.7 of SARS-CoV-2 will eventually start causing destruction in Sindh and the Balochistan province.

Some experts say that the UK variant is not the only mutated strain of the coronavirus present in Sindh, including Karachi. They say certain variables, including the weather, have so far spared the largest city of Pakistan and its commercial hub the wrath of a third wave.

What are the planners doing to prevent people from getting the UK variant that is reported to be 32 to 104 percent more infectious than the previous strain of coronavirus?

Pakistan is currently using China’s two-dose Sinopharm vaccine to inoculate its healthcare workers and the elderly. The vaccine has been donated by the Chinese government. The authorities have now placed an order to buy one million doses of Sinopharm vaccine and 60,000 doses of another Chinese vaccine, Convidecia, that is likely to arrive in Pakistan by the end of current month.

In addition to Chinese vaccines, a private business has imported 50,000 doses of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V. The vaccine is lying at the cold storage of the importer as the authorities are unwilling to fix a price acceptable to the importer, who is not willing to supply it on the price recommended by the government.

The vaccine Pakistan was hoping to use to vaccinate most of its population, AstraZeneca’s AZ1222 or Covishield through Covax facility has not been delivered. All its neighbouring countries, including Afghanistan, as well as some African countries have received large shipments of the British vaccine.

The positivity rate climbed to 10.15 percent in Pakistan on Thursday with 63 deaths, mostly reported from Punjab, Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Sindh appears to be relatively calmer at the moment with no reported deaths in the last few days while the number of Covid-19 cases remained just under 200 for most of March.

Pakistan’s reliance on AstraZeneca to vaccinate general people has backfired. It has been suggested that Indians, who are now manufacturing large quantities of AstraZeneca’s vaccine at their Serum Institute of India, are deliberately delaying vaccine delivery to Pakistan and denying the GAVI, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other donors’ call for vaccine delivery to Pakistan until Pakistan directly appeals to India to provide it the vaccine.

According to an Indian journalist, the Indian government is ready to provide Covid-19 vaccines to Pakistan - the AstraZeneca’s Covisheild as well as the locally-prepared Covaxin. They are only waiting for a direct call from Pakistan’s foreign minister to his Indian counterpart.

“Pakistan is already getting 60-70 percent of raw material for its pharmaceutical needs as well as all the vaccines and biological products from India. Pakistan is totally dependent on India for its anti-rabies vaccine (ARV), typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) and importing those on a monthly basis. What is wrong if Pakistan approaches India and asks for provision of Covid-19 vaccines for its people?” asks the journalist associated with Indian Express.

Pakistani health authorities say that acquiring herd immunity through vaccination is not a sure thing as not all vaccines provide 100 percent immunity.

“Herd immunity through vaccination is a vague idea. Countries like Pakistan need to urgently protect high-risk populations to keep the load on the health system manageable. Our strategy is correct, but the pace is not appropriate”, an official working for the national health services says. He says there is a need for other preventive measures including raising awareness among masses of the importance of social distancing and use of masks to prevent the spread of virus and save lives.

It appears that most of the country’s population will not get the Covid-19 vaccine any time soon. Some people may also be reluctant to be vaccinated owing to the conspiracy theories circulating on the social media.

“Given the circumstances, people should do continue wearing the masks, observe social distancing and washing their hands frequently. There is nothing wrong, un-Islamic or unethical in following these instructions. Until a vaccine is available, all people can do is take these precautions”, says Dr Khurram Nizami, a public health expert associated with a private health facility.

The writer is an investigative reporter, currently covering health, science, environment and water issues for The News International.