The first consignment of the Oxford University-developed coronavirus vaccine AstraZeneca arrived in Pakistan on Saturday, Daily Pakistan reported.

According to a Ministry of Health spokesperson, the consignment includes 1,248,400 doses of the vaccine.

The spokesperson said the vaccine has been brought under the COVAX facility.

UK Ambassador to Pakistan Christian Turner took to Twitter and announced that 1.2 million doses of the  vaccine arrived in Pakistan.

“This pandemic has kept us apart but also brought us together.  Welcoming the arrival of the first batch of #COVAX @UniofOxford @AstraZeneca vaccines in Pakistan; 1.2m doses for world’s 5th largest country.”

Pakistan was supposed to get the first tranche of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine via COVAX in March, but supply was delayed after the Serum Institute of India (SII) diverted supplies to meet its domestic needs, officials said.

Pakistan has now managed to get the coronavirus vaccine from South Korea using influence with partner organizations.

According to National Command Operation Centre (NCOC)’s statement issued on Saturday, so far 10.19 million doses of different vaccines (Sinopharm, Sinovac, and CanSino) have been received in Pakistan.

(SAM)