KARACHI:
Routine meningitis and influenza vaccination services for passengers travelling to Saudi Arabia for Umrah have been suspended following alleged irregularities in vaccine procurement, sources said.
Sources said, the situation has also led to the removal of the Border Health Services counter established at Karachi airport to provide emergency vaccination facilities.
Most staff members at the airport dispensary have been relieved of their duties, leaving only one dispenser and one other employee on duty.
Daily-wage workers hired for the vaccination programme have also been instructed not to report for duty until further orders.
According to sources, only 4,000 vaccine doses remain in stock, which have been reserved for passengers who have paid the vaccination fee through NADRA’s Pak ID application.
Meanwhile, under recently issued directives, the deadline for completing mandatory vaccination requirements has been extended until November 20.
Earlier, the Sindh government, amid the rise in influenza cases in the metropolis, had made the vaccination mandatory for Umrah pilgrims, travelling through the Karachi airport.
Meningitis and polio vaccinations were also made compulsory, with pilgrims required to present vaccination documentation before departure.
According to the medical experts, the current flu virus has shown symptoms similar to those associated with Covid-19, although there is disagreement over whether the virus represents a new influenza variant or a modified Covid-19 variant.
Amid the rise in cases, the Sindh government has made influenza vaccination mandatory for Umrah pilgrims travelling through Karachi Airport. Meningitis and polio vaccinations have also been made compulsory, with pilgrims required to present vaccination documentation before departure.
According to the medical experts, the current flu virus has shown symptoms similar to those associated with Covid-19, although there is disagreement over whether the virus represents a new influenza variant or a modified Covid-19 variant.
The deadline for enforcing mandatory meningitis and polio vaccinations for Umrah pilgrims, as well as yellow fever vaccination requirements for travellers to certain destinations in Africa and North America, had been extended twice between September 5 and October 10.
