The 68-year-old former international cricketer received his first dose of China’s Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine on Thursday. The Sinopharm shot is the only Covid-19 vaccine available in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s health ministry said it could take several weeks to develop immunity to the virus after being vaccinated, and urged the public not to be deterred from getting a chance based on Khan’s diagnosis. not.
“Imran Khan, Prime Minister, was not fully vaccinated when he contracted the virus. He only received the first dose and only 2 days ago, which is too early for ANY vaccine to become effective. Antibodies develop 2- 3 weeks after the second dose of 2-dose COVID vaccines. #VaccinesWork, “Pakistan’s Ministry of Health tweeted on Saturday.
According to Johns Hopkins University in the United States, the 220 million South Asian nation has 13,799 deaths and 623,135 cases during the pandemic.
Cases have increased in Pakistan over the past few weeks, although the pandemic has largely remained under control. Boundary restrictions have been strengthened in some parts of the country due to increasing infections.
The Pakistani vaccine, which began on March 10 with the elderly, was met with reluctance among some sections of the population and footage of Khan receiving the shot was broadcast in an apparent attempt to alleviate concern.
Khan spokesman Shahbaz Gill was quick to distance himself from the prime minister’s positive test result with the Sinopharm shot.
Gill said Khan had a slight cough and fever and prayed for him to recover quickly.
Khan held regular meetings and recently attended a security conference in the capital Islamabad, where he addressed a crowd without a mask.