Due to the rapid spread of the fifth wave of covid-19, driven by the Omicron variant, officials have reiterated the importance of citizens following standard operating procedures (SOPs) and getting vaccinated, including receiving booster shots.
Here is all you need to know about who is eligible for a booster and how one can get it.
Sinopharm, Sinovac, Moderna, and Pfizer are the four vaccines available as booster shots. You are free to pick any one of your choices. You can also get a booster shot of a vaccine that is different from the one you had received earlier. However, it must be of the same company.
Are you eligible?
According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), healthcare workers, people who are 30 years or older and immunocompromised individuals above 12 years old can receive a booster dose.
Also, note that the booster dose is only available to those who received the second dose of the coronavirus vaccine more than six months ago. Additionally, if a person tests positive for the virus, they need to wait for 28 days before being eligible for a booster shot.
Where can you get vaccinated?
Sindh
Sindh Health Department’s media coordinator Mehar Khursheed said eligible citizens could go to any vaccination center in the province to get their booster shot. They will need to take their vaccination cards and computerized national identity cards (CNICs).
Punjab
Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department spokesperson Syed Hammad Raza Bokhari said all district headquarters hospitals (DHQs) and tehsil headquarters hospitals (THQs) are offering doses of the coronavirus vaccines that have been approved for booster shots.
Islamabad
According to Ministry of Health spokesperson Sajid Shah, booster shots of Chinese coronavirus vaccines — Sinopharm and Sinovac — are available at all vaccination centers. Moderna and Pfizer boosters are being administered at mass vaccination centers.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Director-General Health Department Niaz Mohammad said doses of all approved vaccines have been provided to vaccination centers across KP for booster shots. Citizens can visit any vaccination center along with their vaccination card, he added.
Balochistan
Provincial covid-19 cell in-charge Dr. Naqeebullah said that the process of administering booster shots had begun on Dec 30 and was currently underway in the province. The official said that booster shots were available at 96 vaccination centers across the province.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Divisional Monitoring Officer for covid-19 Vaccination, Shafaq Malik, said booster doses are available at 142 centers in the region. Citizens can get a booster dose of any of the four vaccines approved for the purpose.
