The 68-year-old former international cricketer received the first dose of China Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine on Thursday. Sinopharm shot is the only Covid-19 vaccine available in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s health ministry said it could take several weeks to develop immunity to the virus after vaccination and urged the public not to be discouraged from receiving a shot based on Khan’s diagnosis.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan was not completely vaccinated when he contracted the virus. He received only the first dose and only 2 days ago, which is too early for ANY vaccine to become effective. Antibodies develop 2-3 weeks after the second dose of 2-dose COVID vaccines. #VaccinesWork, “Pakistan’s health ministry wrote on Twitter on Saturday.
The South Asian nation, with 220 million people, recorded 13,799 deaths and 623,135 cases during the pandemic, according to Johns Hopkins University in the United States.
Cases have risen in Pakistan in recent weeks, although the pandemic has remained largely under control. Blocking restrictions have been tightened in some parts of the country in response to rising infections.
The launch of the vaccine in Pakistan, which began on March 10 with the elderly, was met with hesitation in some parts of the population, and footage of Khan being shot was aired in an apparent attempt to allay concerns.
Khan’s spokesman Shahbaz Gill quickly turned away from the positive result of the prime minister’s test with the Sinopharm shot.
Gill said Khan had a mild cough and fever and prayed for him to heal quickly.
Khan held regular meetings and recently attended a security conference in the capital Islamabad, where he addressed a maskless crowd.