NADRA can only issue coronavirus vaccination certificates for double-dose vaccines: sources

ISLAMABAD: A startling revelation has come to the fore regarding vaccination certificates issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

According to sources, the system used to issue the certificates has a flaw — it only accommodates double-dose vaccines and does not have the option to issue a certificate for those who were administered a single-dose vaccine.

The sources said people who had been vaccinated with single-dose vaccines have therefore been unable to receive their vaccination certificates from the authority.

Pakistan kicked off its vaccination drive with the double-dose Sinopharm vaccine in February and has since also obtained the CanSino Bio vaccine, which is a single-dose vaccine. In the private sector, the double-dose Sputnik V is available.

Sources said a lot of people in Pakistan are getting vaccinated with the single-dose vaccine to quicken the process of getting a certificate so they may travel abroad.

Responding to the development, NADRA officials said that the reason why it is issuing certificates only to those who had been vaccinated with a double-dose vaccine is because when the system was developed, Pakistan was only administering double-dose vaccines.

“Our system is aligned with the government’s vaccination programme,” they said.