Pakistan records cases of California COVID-19 variant

ISLAMABAD: The Epsilon COVID-19 variant, with origins in California, has been found in several patients in the country, media reported on Thursday.
Scientific Task Force on COVID-19 member Dr Javed Akram said that all the anti-coronavirus vaccines being used in the country are effective against the variant with origins in California.
Earlier in the day, National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) chief Asad Umar had emphasised on meeting vaccination targets to ensure the country doesn’t have to experience a fifth wave of COVID-19.
Taking to Twitter, the federal minister for planning said that despite a sharp decline in new COVID-19 cases, we will remain vulnerable if a large number of people remain unvaccinated.
Urging the public to get themselves vaccinated against COVID-19, the minister said, “Remember that 2nd dose is vital for protection against covid.”
Expressing concern over the slow pace of COVID-19 vaccination drive in various cities, including Karachi, Hyderabad and Quetta, the federal minister had said that the district admin and health teams in these cities needed to improve their performance.
Umar commended the vaccination progress in Islamabad, Peshawar, Gilgit, Sargodha and other cities. The federal minister, however, underscored the need for improvement in the vaccination process in Karachi, Hyderabad, Nowshera, Faisalabad, Quetta, Mardan and other cities.
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