The daily number of Covid-19 infections surged as Pakistan added another 73 cases as compared to just 27 a day earlier. The figures released by the National Institute of Health (NIH) on Wednesday morning showed that there was fatality during the last 24 hours (Tuesday), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The death toll in the country stayed the same at 30,626 whereas the number of total infections now shot up to 1,574,172 after adding the fresh 73 cases.

During the last 24 hours (Tuesday), 6,845 tests were conducted throughout Pakistan whereas the positivity ratio also climbing up to 0.79 percent. The number of patients in critical care was recorded at 51.

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Children’s vaccination

The second phase of vaccination against Covid-19 of children aged between five and 11 years continued as the campaign for children will continue till November 5 in selected districts of Punjab, Sindh and Islamabad.

Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Abdul Qadir Patel said that Covid-19 vaccination was important for children.

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Pfizer lifts 2022 forecast for Covid-19 vaccine sales

Pfizer reported higher quarterly profits Tuesday as it lifted its full-year forecast for coronavirus vaccine sales and predicted Covid-19 would yield billions more in revenues for the forseeable future.

The big US drugmaker now expects 2022 sales of the Comirnaty Covid-19 vaccine of $34 billion, up $2 billion from the prior outlook.

Pfizer maintained its projection of $22 billion in annual sales for its Paxlovid therapeutic for Covid-19.

More than two years into the pandemic, Chief Executive Albert Bourla predicted revenues for Covid-19 products would persist even though they are likely to fall from their 2022 levels.

"We believe our Covid-19 franchises will remain multi-billion revenue generators for the forseeable future, which should serve as a buffer for any unforeseen challenges with other products in our portfolio," Bourla said in prepared remarks.

The most recent quarter included an 83 percent surge in Covid-19 vaccine revenues in the United States, driven by deliveries of the latest booster shot for the Omicron BA.4/BA.5-adapted bivalent vaccine.

Overall, Pfizer reported profits of $8.6 billion in the third quarter, up six percent from the year-ago period on a six percent drop in revenues to $22.6 billion.

Bourla said Pfizer was on track to launch up to 19 new products in the next year and a half. He highlighted potential "blockbuster" products for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Ulcerative colitis and Migraine.

Bourla said the product pipeline should alleviate "understandable" questions about Pfizer's growth potential in the 2025 to 2030 given the loss of some $17 billion in revenues due to patent expirations.

Shares of Pfizer rose 3.5 percent to $48.20 in pre-market trading.

With inputs from AFP.