The Pakistani province of Punjab threatened on Friday to cut off mobile phone service for individuals who refuse to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. As the third wave of COVID-19 infections in Pakistan stabilizes following weeks of restrictions, there has been a reported slowdown in vaccine uptake in Punjab, the most populous province which includes the city of Lahore.
Hamad Raza, a spokesperson for health services in Punjab, stated, "Initially, it was just a suggestion, but due to the actual hesitation among people, we decided to take action," noting that the regulatory authority for telecommunications must decide how to implement this measure. Approximately 10.5 million vaccine doses have been administered in this country of 220 million people, primarily with support from China.
However, the vaccination campaign has seen a noticeable decline due to fears regarding side effects and the spread of misinformation claiming that vaccines cause infertility or even death over the last two years. Salman Haseeb, head of the Young Doctors Association in Pakistan, mentioned in an interview with AFP, "The education level in Pakistan is very low, and some are promoting rumors and misleading information."
Negative Reactions
The threat to cut off phone service has been met with negative reactions in Lahore. Saima Bibi, a domestic worker, remarked, "It would be difficult for me not to be able to use my phone... but I am really scared of the vaccine." Rawalpindi teacher Furwa Hussain, who received her first dose, argued that "people cannot be forced to take the vaccine. This makes me cautious."
To encourage the population to get vaccinated, authorities are promoting the benefits of vaccination, including allowing them to once again attend cinemas, concerts, and religious events, while promising to lift restrictions on businesses and shops once vaccination rates reach 20% in any province.
Pakistan has officially recorded 21,500 deaths due to COVID-19, although the actual number may be significantly higher due to a lack of testing. Previously, the province of Sindh announced its intention to stop paying salaries to public employees who refuse to get vaccinated starting in July, in a move aimed at incentivizing vaccination.
