Omicron COVID: Mandatory booster shots in Sindh as world trembles

KARACHI:-The Sindh Government has decided to make booster jabs mandatory to curb the spread of the new Omicron Covid-19 variant. The new variant has sent the world into panic mode with markets in the Gulf region, which remains open on Sundays, tumbling and countries introducing new restrictions.

The virus has also caused cricket series to cancel.The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 or Covid-19 virus was detected on Friday in South Africa. Several countries including Pakistan have banned inbound flights from South Africa and other African countries.

The panic set in on Saturday and grew on Sunday with reports that more cases were detected in Europe and Australia.

Thirteen cases were identified in the Netherlands and five in Australia on Sunday.

Austria and France were also investigating suspected cases.

Omicron has also been detected in Belgium, Botswana, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

Booster Shots in Sindh

Sindh Health Secretary Zulfiqar Ali Shah on Sunday said that it has been decided to make the booster dose mandatory across the province because of the new variant.he said that the Pfizer vaccine will be administered as a booster jab.

“The booster dose is being given only at Jinnah Hospital and DOW Ojha Hospital but it will be provided to the entire province and no charges will be taken for booster jab”, the Health Secretary said.

Earlier, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) chief and Federal Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar urged all eligible citizens to get “vaccinated urgently”.

“Based on the emergence of the new Covid variant, notification has been issued [to] restrict travel from six South African countries and Hong Kong,” he tweeted.

On Saturday, Pakistan banned inbound travel from South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana and Hong Kong.