Myanmar to get jabs for just 20% of population

MYANMAR is due to get a Covid-19 vaccine only for 20 per cent of its population next year under the COVAX programme and the jabs will not come all at once, said the Union Minister for Health and Sports Myint Htwe during the meeting of the COVAX National Coordinating Committee (CNCC) on December 5.

The minister discussed matters related to the rounds of immunisation planned from the second quarter of next year, which were to be reported to Gavi, the vaccine alliance, on December 7 under the COVAX plan.

These include the immunisation of prioritised groups, cost sharing between Gavi and Myanmar, the type of vaccine Myanmar is willing to import, as well as logistics and immunisation plans.

He said it was a final and detailed discussion by CNCC and National Immunisation Technical Advisory GroupNITAG. He also stressed the need to consider infrastructure and human resource situations of Myanmar during the immunisation plan.

He expressed his belief that Myanmar would be successful in its Covid-19 vaccination programmes as it has had long-term experience in vaccinating the citizens against 13 other diseases. But he stressed the need to be cautious about its cold storage system. The minister said preparations were also being made for that.

The minister also said the maximum amount of the Covid vaccine Myanmar could receive would cover just 20 per cent of its population. And the amount will be imported in instalments, he added.

However, Myanmar ambassadors are reaching out in the US, the UK, China and India to purchase additional jabs as required by the nation, the union minister promised.

The National Committee for Covid-19 Prevention, Control and Treatment has also given the instruction to buy the required amount of vaccine with the state fund and World Bank loans, the minister said.