Threats of cellphone blocks, work bans boost Pakistan's vaccination rate

ISLAMABAD - Tens of thousands of Pakistanis are thronging coronavirus vaccination centres daily after officials announced penalties for the unvaccinated, including blocked cell phones and barred access to offices, restaurants, shopping malls and transport.

Queues for inoculations stretched more than a kilometre in some locations this week, in response to measures designed to help slow a Delta variant-fuelled surge in infections that has put pressure on Pakistan's poor health infrastructure. In a country that has a long anti-vaccination history, health workers said many in line were more afraid of the restrictions - some started Aug. 1 while others kick in on Aug. 30 - than the health threat of COVID-19. That perception was supported by people queuing who spoke to Reuters.