Covid-19 vaccine finishes in Afghanistan: Health Ministry

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Public Health on Tuesday (MoPH) said it has run out of Covid-19 vaccine and has stopped the vaccination process in the country.

A statement from MoPH received by Pajhwok Afghan News said that all vaccine doses had finished and its administration process had stopped since Monday.

The statement said the second dose of the vaccine could be delayed from four to 16 weeks after the first dose. Anyone who received their first dose of the vaccine can take the second dose after 16 weeks without affecting their immunity, the ministry said.

MoPH said that the Covid-19 vaccination would be resumed with the arrival of its doses to Afghanistan.

The source added that 968,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine had so far administered in the country.

DostDatagirNazari, spokesman of MoPH said that 250,000 people had received their first dose of the vaccine and were waiting for their second dose.

India has so far provided 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Afghanistan and China also assisted the country in providing vaccine.

On the other hand, China recently announced 700,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine in assistance for Afghanistan.

JavidQayem, Afghanistan envoy in China, said that the vaccine would reach Afghanistan within two days.

This comes as the third wave of Covid-19 is rapidly spreading in Afghanistan where 1,500 people get infected and 50 die from the disease on a daily basis.

Over 84,000 people are infected by the virus in Afghanistan and 3,200 others died since the outbreak of the disease. According to MoPH, 59,000 people are recovered from the disease.

Mds/ma

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