THIS refers to the report ‘Govt to buy more Covid vaccines amid resurgence’ (Jan 5), according to which, Pakistan will import 200,000 doses of updated Pfizer Covid vaccine. What makes the procurement of the updated Covid vaccine questionable is the fact that the Food and Drug Adminis-tration (FDA), which is the regulatory authority in the United States, has not approved any Covid vaccine specifically for the new JN.1 subvariant.

Keeping in view the fact that Covid vaccines confer minimal protection for a limited time at the cost of high risk of natural health adversity, it is a matter of great concern that Covid vaccine, parti- cularly the one that has not been approved by FDA, is being imported by Pakistan for high-risk groups, including Haj pilgrims and children.

This is despite the fact that Covid infectivity rate is below obe per cent and Saudi Arabia, after reviewing the latest authentic scientific literature and in compliance with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has removed the condition to get vacci- nated for Covid virus infection before proceeding for Haj.

This is a serious matter that needs to be reviewed carefully by the relevant federal authorities to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the people in Pakistan.

It must be noted that even the United Nations is no more supporting Cocax, which is an international initiative to provide Covid vaccines to people around the world. According to authentic scientific literature, Covid virus causes illness manifestation by targeting human body functions at different levels, including the epigenetic mechanisms, and due to this reason Covid vaccines confer minimal protection for a limited time at the cost of high risk of causing long-term adverse consequences.

Besides, children generally do not catch Covid infection. The administration of Covid vaccine in children may put their natural health and growth at risk.

Diet preparations, like chicken in the forms of nutrifortified broth and ginger- fortified honey mixture have been effectively proven to play a prophylactic and therapeutic role against infections of all Covid variants and subvariants.

Dr Faiza Abdur Rab
Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science and Technology
University of Karachi
Karachi

Published in Dawn, ICON, January 21th, 2024