Donors urged to monitor distribution of Covid-19 vaccine doses.

ISLAMABAD -- Stakeholders at a webinar said Covid-19 vaccine donors should strictly monitor the distribution and administration of free doses in Pakistan.

They feared that free vaccine doses arranged by donors might be sold at high prices as it was done in the case of Covid-19 free testing kits.

The trust deficit between the citizens and the government has widened. So, it is necessary to have an external monitoring and control mechanism for the Covid-19 vaccination to benefit the genuinely needy ones and the frontline workers and elderly people.

They also urged the government to first develop an inclusive and integrated Covid-19 vaccination policy followed by a strategic action plan as just firefighting would not serve the purpose to take care of people's healthcare and preventive needs. The federal government and provinces have to be on the same page in this regard.

The webinar was organised by the Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan) and moderated by its Executive Director Munir Ahmed.

Speaking on the occasion, chief of Panah Gahs (shelters) Programme Naseemur Rehman said the government would take care of the marginalised communities during the Covid-19 vaccination phase after administering the free doses to the frontline workers, including medical professionals and aged persons.

He hoped that the government would rationalise and expedite the process. He said institutional gaps have widened and trust building is essential to deal with such type of a national crisis.

Dr Masood Ghani, a health practitioner and vice district governor Association of Lions Clubs International, said the centre and provinces were not on the same page in handling the pandemic and its vaccination.

'We don't see any clear and steadfast government policy and engagement of its institutions accordingly. That is why the public is also not taking the pandemic seriously. Despite all lousy handling, we are grateful to Allah for saving us from any major disaster. I suggest to the government to have an inclusive...