Pakistan's regulator approves AstraZeneca vaccine.

ISLAMABAD -- The Drugs Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) on Saturday approved the Oxford University AstraZeneca Covid-19 shot for emergency use in the country. The UK-based AstraZeneca becomes the first vaccine locally approved for use in the country.

Officials Saturday confirmed the DRAP under its mandate observed the efficacy of the vaccine and gave its emergency use approval. Senior officials at the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) and DRAP informed The Nation that the regulatory body of medicine, during the board meeting, has given 'emergency use' approval of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

'Sindh medical stores will import the vaccine in the country,' said a senior official at the health ministry. The officials said that the price and quantity of doses will be decided by the ministry.

Director General Health Dr Rana Muhammad Safdar confirming the approval of the UK based AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine confirmed this development. DRAP officials said that the vaccine has been approved as its efficacy in clinical trials has been reported above 90 percent.

The officials also informed that some other vaccine manufacturers had also applied for the approval, but the process has been pending due to the incomplete data submitted with the DRAP.

Earlier, the Special Cabinet Committee constituted as an...