11/21 INDIGENIZED VACCINES PRODUCTION IN PAKISTAN

Responding to the news "Cuba Offers to Produce Its Covid-19 Vaccine In Pakistan” is a golden opportunity and a very generous offer. This was stated by Editor in Chief of the HunarNama Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, currently serving as Vice Chancellor of the National Skills University Islamabad, Pakistan, and Vice Chairman National Technology Council. According to Prof. Mukhtar, Pakistan must get involved with indigenous vaccine manufacturing; otherwise, we might face severe issues in the future.

For healthy living, almost 16 vaccines (some with multiple doses) are recommended from birth to 18 years. A few of the most common are Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP), poliovirus, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, human papillomavirus, and meningococcal vaccines. We need to manufacture all these in the country. Indigenous production of vaccines will save a huge sum of foreign exchange. Neighboring China and India are producing these vaccines, and they emerged as major exporters across the world.

In recent times COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing countries have supported others; however, it might become tough gradually. Pakistan being the most populated country, must develop indigenized vaccine development and manufacturing capabilities. This will boost the morale of the people and culminate doubts as some people believe in vaccine conspiracies.

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar is a world-renowned virologist having the highest publications in the field. He served the US Government on the Outstanding Scientist Visa, for which the preliminary condition is to be a recipient of the Nobel Prize. According to him, Pakistan has all the technical infrastructure and workforce to embark on vaccine development and manufacturing capabilities. However, a unique nexus between the public and private sectors is a prerequisite to accomplish this gigantic task.