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Reviewed 21 October 2021
Ever since rolling out the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive at the beginning of February this year, Pakistan has administered millions of doses to date. The country has so far approved five Covid vaccines: Sinopharm, Cansino, Sinovac, Sputnik and AstraZeneca.
With more and more Pakistanis looking to get themselves fully inoculated, here we share everything you need to know about vaccine registration in Pakistan, how to register for the vaccine, which groups are being prioritized and how much getting yourself vaccinated costs.
Table of Contents
How do I register for the vaccine in Pakistan?
Via text message
You can message your 13 digits Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) (if you are 19 years old and above) without spaces and dashes and send it to 1166.
Via government website
If you’re 12 and above: You can register yourself by sending your CNIC no to 1166 (free SMS) from any mobile number or by visiting the NIMS website, where you will be greeted with a registration screen on which you can enter your details. Then, you may simply walk into the nearest vaccination center. Please note that Only the Pfizer vaccine will be administered to the age group 12 to 18 years (free of cost for the unvaccinated).
If you’re aged between 50 to 59: You can register yourself by sending your CNIC no to 1166 (free SMS) from any mobile number or by visiting the NIMS website. The vaccination center and date will be communicated through SMS.
If you’re aged between 60 to 64: You can register yourself by sending your CNIC no to 1166 (free SMS) from any mobile number or by visiting the NIMS website. The vaccination center and date will be communicated through SMS.
If you’re a senior citizen over the age of 65: You can register yourself by sending your CNIC number to 1166 and receive PIN code. Then, you may simply walk into the nearest vaccination center.
If you’re a registered healthcare worker: Vaccination center and date will be communicated through SMS.
Am I eligible for the vaccine?
The national COVID-19 immunization program is now open to everyone aged 19 and above in Pakistan. The vaccine is currently available for:
- Individuals who are above 12 years of age
- Vaccination is recommended for persons with comorbidities that have been identified as increasing the risk of severe COVID-19, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and diabetes
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women
- Eligible adults with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and other stable chronic disorders
Vaccination is currently not available for acutely ill, hospitalized patients and those with acute Covid-19 infections. In addition, those with a history of severe allergic reactions to vaccine preservatives/stabilizers in the past are also exempted from getting their vaccine shots.
Administration of COVID vaccine to pregnant and breastfeeding women is not currently advised. Data concerning the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers are very limited. The actual risks of vaccines, especially mRNA to the pregnant woman and her fetus are unknown because these vaccines have not been tested on pregnant women.
How much will it cost?
The government of Pakistan is providing the CanSino, Sinopharm, SinoVac and AstraZeneca vaccines free of cost.
The Sputnik vaccine is being administered by the private sector, the price of which can be check with hospitals offering the facility. The price of two doses of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine has been fixed at Rs 8,500 by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan.
Once vaccinated, you can obtain the vaccine certificate by visiting the NIMS website or the nearest National Database and Registration Authority Center after paying a fee of 100 PKR.
