An important development has emerged regarding the federal government’s local vaccine policy, as the Federal Ministry of Health has submitted the policy to the Prime Minister.
According to sources in the Ministry of Health, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will soon convene a meeting on the local vaccine policy, during which the policy will be finalized after consultation with experts.
Sources said that under the policy, a target has been set to locally manufacture all types of vaccines by the year 2030. This initiative is expected to encourage the local pharmaceutical industry.
On the other hand, local production of vaccines is expected to save 1.2 billion dollars in valuable foreign exchange by 2030, while dependence on India and China for vaccines will also be reduced.
Sources in the Ministry of Health further stated that after approval from the cabinet, 13 vaccines for children along with several other types of vaccines will be able to be produced locally.
It is worth noting that Pakistan currently imports vaccines worth more than 500 million dollars annually.
