slamabad (September 16, 2025): Concerns have emerged over the potential wastage of millions of rupees’ worth of Covid-19 vaccine doses currently stored by the government of Pakistan.
According to sources within the Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI), the last remaining stock of Pfizer-manufactured Covid-19 vaccines held at the federal warehouse is set to expire next month. In a formal communication, the FDI has informed the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) about the urgent situation, warning of imminent losses if no timely action is taken.
The warehouse reportedly holds more than 5,000 doses of the vaccine, valued at over Rs. 25 million. Despite the looming expiration, the NCOC has not yet issued any instructions on how the stock should be handled. Officials say that once directives are received, a decision will be made regarding the use or disposal of the remaining supply.
The problem has been compounded by a sharp decline in public demand for Covid-19 vaccines across the provinces. With vaccination campaigns having slowed considerably in the past year, the distribution of available stock has been minimal, leaving the final batch unused in federal storage facilities.
Health experts caution that this development highlights a broader challenge of vaccine management in the post-pandemic phase. While global attention has largely shifted away from Covid-19, the risk of wastage continues to weigh heavily on resource-constrained countries like Pakistan.
Observers suggest that the government may still be able to avoid wastage by accelerating awareness campaigns, redistributing stock to provinces, or donating doses to countries where demand still exists. However, the narrow time frame left before expiration makes these options increasingly difficult to implement.
The FDI’s warning reflects a growing sense of urgency within the health sector. Without swift intervention, Pakistan may soon add yet another case of vaccine wastage to its already strained healthcare record—an outcome critics argue could have been prevented with better planning and demand assessment.
