ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Health Ministry has barred its citizens under 40 years of age and those with a history of severe allergic reaction to any component of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine from taking the jab.

According to the interim guidelines issued by the Ministry on Sunday about administering the AstraZeneca vaccine, people who developed blood clotting issues after receiving the first dose of the vaccine should not take the second dose

Those with active gastrointestinal bleeding or seizure, or a history of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis are also stopped from opting to get the AstraZeneca vaccine administered, the guidelines said.

Meanwhile, The World Health Organization said the link between the vaccine and blood clots was "plausible" but not confirmed, adding that the clotting incidents were "very rare" among nearly 200 million people who have received the jab worldwide.

Pakistan received its first shipment of the AstraZeneca vaccines on May 8 under the COVAX Facility, a World Health Organization-led initiative aimed at ensuring equal access to Covid-19 vaccines by various countries, according to the reports.

Pakistan is currently facing a third wave pandemic, and to bring the situation under control, the government is taking stringent measures including locking down almost the whole country during the ongoing Eid al-Fitr holidays and accelerating the vaccination process.

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