Astrazeneca Covid-19 vaccine gets approval in Pakistan: Health minister

Pakistan is in the process of speaking to a number of vaccine makers, but this is the first local approval.

Astrazeneca's Covid-19 vaccine has been granted approval for emergency use in Pakistan, the country's health minister said on Saturday, the first vaccine against the disease to be given the green light in the South Asian country.

A man and child with protective masks walk outside a market as the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic continues, in Karachi, Pakistan. (Reuters)

"DRAP granted emergency use authorisation to AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine," Pakistan's Health Minister Faisal Sultan told Reuters, referring to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan.

Pakistan is in the process of speaking to a number of vaccine makers, but this is the first local approval.