Pakistan might face a third COVID-19 wave as the authorities have already been lifting significant restrictions for economic consideration but the pace of vaccination, even among the country’s health care workers, is yet to pick up the pace, reported Dawn. 

The report in Dawn says the country’s health experts are in view of giving priorities to vaccination efforts rather than to economic considerations for the time being.

Authorities in Pakistan lifted almost all restrictions last month.

“We are living in a society where people do not follow the SOPs. They even laugh at those wearing face masks,” Dr. Qaisar Sajjad, the secretary-general of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), was quoted as saying by Dawn.  

He said, “We have already observed the results of the lifting of restrictions in September last year when 100 to 200 daily cases were being reported, and within a month the government had to declare a second wave of coronavirus.” He further suggested that restrictions should be lifted once the country vaccinates 70 percent of the entire population.

Health workers refusing vaccines is now common in Pakistan. Dawn reported that the country's top medical institution, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, had to warn its employees of disciplinary action.

“Possibility of a third wave cannot be ruled out. We are giving another opportunity for the virus to bounce back. We should not forget that now there is more than one variant of virus in Pakistan and they are more infectious and transmissible.” Dr. Javaid Usman, a microbiologist, was quoted by Dawn.